Minnie's Food Pantry namesake dies

The woman who inspired Minnie's Food Pantry has died.

Dr. Minnie Hawthorne-Ewing suffered a fatal heart attack Thursday night. She was 69-years-old.

Her daughter, Dr. Cheryl Jackson, opened the food pantry in Plano in her honor seven years ago.

It's one of the largest pantries in Collin County.

"She was a warrior. She was a fighter. She was a giver. She was a lover of life. She loved people. She was a pastor," Jackson said.

Volunteers said it was an honor to have known her.

"We just served and give back the way Ms. Minnie taught us to do it, taught Cheryl. And every volunteer and every customer that comes to our pantry she shares her name. We share her name. We love Ms. Minnie. And it was an honor to serve her while she was alive and for her to see what we were doing for her," said Erica Simon.

Minnie's Food Pantry is still open today.