Desus Nice is mourning the loss of his mother, Olive Baker, sharing an emotional and deeply reflective tribute that laid bare the memories, lessons, and love that shaped his life. Per his post, she died on Monday (Jan. 19).
On Instagram, Desus posted a carousel of photos chronicling moments with his mother across the years, accompanied by a lengthy caption that read like a memoir. In it, he recalled how Baker nurtured his intellect from an early age.
“I remember you reading the NY Times to me as a child. And how on Sundays we would discuss the ‘ethicist’ column, and have deep conversations about if we agreed with the writer. You always spoke to me like an adult, regardless of my age,” wrote Desus.
He also reflected on her quiet wisdom and practicality, including a moment when he once complained about not having the same “American food” as his classmates.
“You responded that I would have to pay a lot for the food I used to get for free when I’d get older. You were correct,” he added.
Baker’s dedication to education and service was a recurring theme throughout the tribute. Desus remembered watching his mother work a full-time job while attending Queens College at night to earn her master’s degree in library science, still finding time for her family despite exhaustion.
He later celebrated her career milestone as senior branch librarian at the Soundview Branch of the New York Public Library, noting how her name carried weight throughout the NYPL system and how deeply she was respected by colleagues.
Baker worked in the NYPL system for 26 years, and according to a 2024 article in the newsletter for the organization Our Kids Read, was a key player in establishing the Center for Reading and Writing, a program to help library patrons "improve your writing, reading, speaking, and listening skills in English." After leaving the library, she worked in real estate in Florida.
Her son's post shared an anecdote about a life-altering medical emergency, when Desus rushed his mother to the hospital and learned she needed immediate brain surgery for a subdural hematoma. Though the surgery was successful, doctors warned that Alzheimer’s disease was likely, which Desus confirmed ended up happening.
He also recounted her recovery and the joy she found in spending time with her grandchild, Miles, including evenings watching Regular Show together.
“You cried tears of laughter at the trash boat episode which you found particularly hilarious (taste!),” he wrote.
As the disease progressed, Desus shared the heartbreak of watching his mother struggle with memory loss while still being herself in spirit: “You were still you… yet you weren’t.”
He also reflected on the loss of his father and how his mother held on afterward, even without the ability to speak.
“Even though you could no longer talk, you knew. And how you held on for us, because we couldn’t lose both parents in the same year.”
Rather than focus on what Alzheimer’s took from her, Desus chose to honor what his mother gave.
“I reflect on the good you left in this world and the lives you changed when you were here,” he said before closing with a moving farewell. “Wherever you’re at now, I hope there’s a library full of books to read and a beautiful garden for you to tend to. Mommy, you’re free now. I will always remember that I love you.”
The post prompted an outpouring of condolences from fans, peers, and fellow creatives, many praising Desus for sharing such a raw and loving portrait of a woman whose influence extended far beyond her family.