Araminta Margaret Dade aka "Minta"

Araminta, our precious Minta as we called her, was a woman of many words. Araminta was born May 5th,1945 to Bernice Rose and James Alfonso Rice, Sr., in Washington, DC. With this union, she had one brother, James Alfonso Rice, Jr. (Sharon Rice). Minta attended Roosevelt High School In Washington, DC. and was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith at Sacred Heart at a young age. As a child she loved to dance, swim, travel and had a passion for shoes.

During her early years in Washington DC, she worked for Blue Cross and Blue Shield, National Geographic, and then started her journey towards nursing, becoming an ophthalmic technician. Minta had many amazing attributes, but her greatest gift was the patience and love she had for children. She decided to use her aptitude and opened Dade's Raggedy Ann and Andy Day Care in the summer of 1980. After accepting her very first day care child, Hysnyck (Heidi) Jenkins, her notoriety brought her children and families from all over the Bay Area. Minta went back to school and graduated from Contra Costa College with an Associates of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education. In support of other providers, she became the President of the West Contra Costa County Family Day Care Association in October of 1980, in which she served for eight years. As President of the County, she worked hard to develop providers into informed business owners and educators, not just "babysitters". She increased membership in the Association by offering a Kaiser Medical plan, child care liability insurance, a retirement plan, workshops, conferences, ombudsman support from licensing, and activities for all child care children in West County. Her work earned her the Kiddie Award from the Contra Costa Child Care Council. Minta's continued dedication afforded her the opportunity to provide child care to over four generations of children for 30+ years. Her unwavering faith in Jesus allowed her the strength to share herself with so many people. She was a daughter, sister, mother, cousin, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, best friend, amazing sister-in-law, and an extraordinary child care provider.

Araminta entered into rest early morning on Thursday, June 11th, 2020 at the age of 75 with her family by her side. She is survived by her widowed husband of 57 years, James Dade, Sr., her brother James Alfonso Rice Jr., her oldest child and daughter Theresa Dade-Boone (Adrian Boone, Sr.), her oldest son James Dade, Jr. (Valerie Dade), her youngest son Michael Dade (Tara Dade), nephews Alrick R. Cole aka "Butch", James Rice III aka "Bo", Christopher Rice Sr. (Cheron Rice), Bryan Rice, Brandon Rice, niece Kevina Presely-Sankey aka "Beanie" (James Sankey), sister-in-laws, Leslie C. Jackson, Lynne C. Dade, Lydia K.Totty (Lawrence Totty), dear cousins Roland Brack, Charles Hawkins aka "Chucky", Ronald Waters aka "Ronnie" and Sandra Wilson aka "Sandy". She was the loving grandmother of 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Her beloved grandchildren are Adrian Boone II, Xzavier Boone, Mykala Boone, Vincent Nolan, Karen Dade, Ella Perez-Sawyer, Mila Dade and Nico Dade. Her great grandchildren are Keyera Nolan, Amari Nolan and Neveah Nolan. She also leaves behind her pets (Venice, Pickles, Mutt and Jeff) and a host of very, very dear friends, including her life long friend Claudia J. Butler.

Services will be offered June 22nd, 2020 at St Joseph's Cemetery and Funeral Center in San Pablo, CA at 10am. The viewing starts at 10am and will be until 12 noon. There will be a private family service from 12 noon to 12:45pm. The Committal service will be at the funeral grave site at 1pm.