Lillie Marie Minor-Johnson

Lillie Viola Marie Minor-Johnson was born May 12, 1942, to the late Nathan Isaiah Minor and Mary Holmes Minor-Hendking in Cincinnati, Ohio, at 5809 Chandler St. in the suburb of Madisonville. Lillie was the youngest of four children, Harold Minor, Mary Minor-Hamilton, and Geraldine Minor-Brown. Along with her parents they have all gone on to be with the Lord.

She departed this life peacefully on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 2:09 p.m. at the Heritage Spring Nursing Home.

At an early age Lillie became interested in music and singing while listening to the choir here at the First Baptist Church of Oakley. Her mother, Mrs. Mary Minor was the youth choir director, and her best friend Mrs. Mary Dexter was the church musician. Early on Lillie’s mother and Mrs. Dexter, saw and heard the gift of music while Lillie was singing with the youth choir. Lillie’s mother signed her up to begin taking piano lessons from one of Cincinnati’s and Madisonville’s finest musicians, Mrs. Gaston. While taking lessons from Mrs. Gaston, Lillie started playing at Sunday School, and several recitals through her music teacher. Lillie’s incredible ear for music began to blossom to the point where her music teacher stated, “as long as she could hear the music, and play it that well, she would never stick with the written music”. Another sign of Lillie’s incredible gift beginning to flourish was the Deacons of First Baptist Oakley having to chase her off the piano after every service, every week.

At the tender age of 11 years old, Lillie’s mother Mary married the Late Jimmy Hendking Sr.  and her family moved to Birmingham, Alabama. Through this marriage, Lillie and her siblings gained 4 more siblings. Her Brother’s Jimmy Hendking Jr., Albert Hendking, Sr.(deceased), Sisters Ruby Hunt (deceased) and Roselia Hendking Knox. While attending Pratt City Middle School, Lillie was about to graduate from the 8th grade, and the Senior High School Music Teacher came to assist with the graduation. While she was assisting, She, Mrs. Stollenworth heard Lillie play all the songs for the graduation, including “My Country Tis of Thee” and “Pomp and Circumstance” all by ear! Needless to say, Mrs. Stollenworth was very impressed and did not have to play any of the music. From there Lillie went on to attend and graduate from the Westin and Olin High School. While at Westin Olin, the very first week Mrs. Stollenworth sent for Lillie to come and play for a special group that was representing the school in a city-wide talent show. From that moment on, Mrs. Stollenworth had Lillie to play for all of the school events and presentations, which she did all by “Ear”.

While playing for the special group of singers for the city-wide talent show she met her great friends Eddie Kendricks and the love of her life, Paul Williams who later became the founding members of “The Temptations”. While still in High school, Lillie, her sister Geraldine, Paul Williams, and Eddie Kendricks formed a group called “The Majors and Minors”! They performed and won all of the local high school variety and talent shows during their high school years. Lillie’s High School career was capped off by being named “The Most Gifted and Talented” of her senior class.

Another signal event for Lillie happened while she was playing for the High School events, Mr. Noah Jemison, Minister of Music at the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church where her family attended, heard Lillie play. Immediately Mr. Jemison hired Lillie to play for the church where she received her first salary. This is what started Lillie’s incredible career as a “Minister of Music” for several churches.

After High School Lillie moved back to Cincinnati at 18 years old. At the urging of her sister Geraldine who had already moved back to Cincinnati, Lillie began playing and teaching music at the First Baptist Church of Oakley, specifically the “Young Adult Choir”. Periodically, Lillie assisted the “Senior Choir” and she was the main musician for the “Youth Choir”. As time went on, Lillie and the “Young Adult Choir” became well known around the city of Cincinnati for their annual recital always held around the Christmas season. The church would be so packed in the sanctuary and in the lower level to hear the melodious sounds of the” Young Adult Choir” and Lillie’s anointed voice and her hands wearing that piano out!

While playing at First Baptist Oakley, Lillie also formed a community choir known as “The Golden Larks”. This group sang all over the city and later became “The Meloaires”. Lillie served 15 years at First Baptist Oakley before moving on to become the musician for the “Youth Choir” and “Chancel Choir” at Brown Chapel AME Church.

While at Brown Chapel Lillie’s gifts and talent soared to new heights. She grew the Chancel Choir from 10 singers to a choir of 40 to 50 singers. Because of her leadership and gifting the Chancel Choir ministered all over the city of Cincinnati and especially AME district and regional conventions. She also preformed her very first solo concert and recording and became affectionately known as “The Songbird of Cincinnati”. After serving at Brown Chapel for 8 years Lillie went on to become pianist at the First Baptist Church of Kennedy Heights. Once again, her gifts and talents made room for her and she excelled in a great way while serving there for 5 years. She then went to serve at the New St. John Baptist Church under the urging of Pastor James Pankey who had just became the Pastor of the church. Lillie served at New St. John for 26 years as the Minister of Music. While serving at church’s faithfully, being a licensed cosmetologist, Lillie managed to work and retire after 30 years from Gibson Greeting Cards.

Lillie’s greatest accomplishment in life was raising her 2 boys, Samuel James Minor and David Gerrell Minor. She loved her boys with all her heart and showed it by the way she raised them. She raised them to reverence and love God, to love each other unapologetically, to stay close to each other forever, and to love and be kind to everyone. Her work ethic taught them how to work hard as she often picked up 2-3 extra jobs to take care of her family. Those who know Lillie, knew that you better not mess with “her boys”. She would literally fight you over her boys and her family. She and her siblings would tell us how Lillie would fight girls and boys to protect her family. They also state that she was undefeated in every fight she had in Cincinnati and Birmingham.

Wherever Lillie has been her gift of music, excellence and service has been exemplary and her love for God, His music, and His people undeniable. She served at several other church’s in the city including Revelation Baptist Church, Bethlehem Baptist Church, and New Life Baptist Church to name a few. Lillie has left a mark that can never be erased at all of the church’s she has served and people who have heard her anointed voice and beautiful touch on the piano. Here is a list of songs that has blessed the kingdom of God that she often was requested to sing: Uncloudy Day, Mary Don’t You Weep, Until I Die, To Be Free, Safe in His Arms, Joy Comes in The Morning, Come on And Join This Army, just to name a few. Because of her sustained excellence in music ministry, Lillie received countless awards, honors, and recognition. In 2017 she was recognized and inducted into the “Cincinnati Legend and Icon” hall of fame.

Lillie is the widow of the late Mr. Kale Johnson. She leaves to cherish her memory and legacy her beloved sons, Samuel Minor (Lenette) and Rev. David Minor; Sister, Roselia Knox (Kenneth), Brother, Jimmy Hendking Jr.; 8 Grandchildren, Dorian Williams, Mikol Joiner, Laurence Bass, Kandi Fuqua (Tony), Kenya Adams, Keisha Robinson, Tiera Robinson, Cormarie Robinson; Special Daughter’s in love, Lenette “Ms. Daughter” Minor, Demekia Minor; 8 Great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Lillie’s mission statement is “I will never retire from music ministry; I want to serve until my body gives out”! Her favorite scripture quote is “Be Ye Also Ready” Matthew 24:44.

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23

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