Lois (Paige) Minor

Lois Marie Paige Minor was born in El Dorado, Arkansas, on September 1, 1948. She was the seventh of twelve children born to Henry and Catherine Andrews Paige who encouraged the children to have a personal relationship with the Lord and to attain as much education as possible. Always a joyful, quiet, yet spirited individual, Lois confessed her faith in Christ as a young child and faithful member of Lee Chapel African American Episcopal Church. Lois received her formal education in the El Dorado Public School System, graduating from Booker T. Washington High School in 1966. She then attended Jarvis Christian University in Hawkins, Texas and Bishop College in Dallas, Texas where she met and married her college sweetheart, Erskine Minor Sr., and relocated to Selma, Alabama.
Shortly after relocating to Selma, Alabama, Lois joined Zion # 1 Methodist Protestant Church. As a faithful and loyal member for over forty years, Lois served in various capacities at Zion: church clerk/secretary, choir member, and assistant and superintendent of Sunday School. Lois’ melodic operatic gift afforded her numerous performance venues. In 1990, Lois became a charter member of the Selma Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Inc. Her dedication to community service and philanthropic efforts benefited the Selma community and beyond. Additionally, her generous personality along with her infectious smile warmed everyone she met.
Lois was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and extended family member. On February 19, 2023, She and Erskine, affectionally called “Cokey”, celebrated fifty-two years of marriage. Lois was also a nurturing mother to her three children, Erskine Jr., Ingo (Nancy), and Shasti (Demetri), as well as a doting grandmother to six granddaughters (Fatima, Ariel, Felicea, Laurissa, Elisha, and Demi), two grandsons (Lil Ingo and Demias) and six great-grandchildren. Lois loved her family tremendously and rarely missed the opportunity to return home to El Dorado, Arkansas to spend time with her Paige family as well. Education was extremely important to Lois. Following her move to Selma, Alabama, Lois enrolled in Alabama State University, completing the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in English/Language Arts. She began a career as a high school teacher and taught one year at Dallas County High School and forty-one years at Southside High School. While there, she directed the school’s concert choir which toured numerous states annually. Under Lois’ direction, Southside High scored numerous high distinction marks (#1’s) in state competitions.
As a high school teacher, Lois mentored numerous students, helping them to see the power of their academic and/or choral potential. On March 09, 2023, Lois’ earthly journey was completed. God sent a special angel to the University of Alabama Hospital-Birmingham to bring his faithful servant home to begin her well-earned celestial life. There to greet her with open arms were her parents, Henry and Catherine Paige; sisters, Merlin Paige-Washington, Alene Paige-Gatson, Evangelist Jean Paige-Morgan; and brothers, Nathaniel and Henry Paige, Jr.
She will be greatly missed by her husband, Erskine Minor, Sr.; sons, Erskine Minor, Jr. of Madison, WI; and Ingo (Nancy) of Syracuse, NY; daughter, Shasti Minor Buford (Demetri) of Atlanta, GA; six granddaughters: Fatima, Ariel, Felicea, Laurissa, Elisha, and Demi; two grandsons: Lil Ingo and Demias, five great-grandsons, one newly born great-granddaughter: Azaria; five sisters, Evangelist Lily Paige Pride (Bishop Orlin Pride) of Dallas, TX, Annie P. Paige Tate (Jonathan) of Milwaukee, WI, Lorene Paige Ballard (Bill) of Dallas, TX, Latunia Paige Balous and Wanda Paige of Eldorado, AK; one brother, Winston Paige (Ava) of Dallas, TX; brothers-in-law, William Minor (Mary), Russell Minor, Reginald Minor (Virginia); sister-in-law, Constance Minor-Glover, and a host of other loving cousins and dear friends.

 A family hour will be held Friday March 24, 2023 from 6PM-7PM at  Ashley's JH Williams Chapel. The homegoing celebration will be held Saturday, March 25, 2023 at Ellwood Community Church at 11AM. Interment will immediately follow in Zion #1 MP Churchyard, directed by Ashley’s JH Williams. 
The staff and management at Ashley’s JH Williams Funeral Home extends our heartfelt condolences and prayers to the entire Minor-Buford families.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lois (Paige) Minor, please visit our floral store.