Elbert Jessie “Butch” Baker, Jr., 68, of Enigma died Saturday, June 30, 2012, at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3, 2012, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Jack Perrin and Rev. Terrell Roberts will officiate with a private burial to be held at a later date. The family will receive friends on Monday, July 2, 2012, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mr. Baker was born on March 10, 1944 in Tifton and was the son of Gracie Mae Francis Purvis Baker of Tifton and the late Elbert Jessie “Jay” Baker, Sr., who died on December 20, 1975. In addition to his father, he was also preceded in death by two brothers, Eddie Donald Baker, Sr. and Darrell Rowland Baker, who both died in 2009. He was the kitchen manager at Shoney’s from 1975-1980; a mechanic and owner/operator of Baker Starter and Generator in Tifton, until it burned on January 20, 1993. He worked with Perrin Farm Equipment and, later, was a contract driver and delivered parts to Advanced Auto Parts Stores all over South Georgia until 2007.
In addition to his mother, Mr. Baker is survived by his wife, Phyllis Arcelia Knight Baker of Enigma; one son, Elbert Jessie “Elmo” Baker, III of Enigma; one daughter, Ellis Elaine Baker of Enigma; aunts and uncles, Ralph Baker of Moultrie, Tez DelLano of Tampa, Florida, Hazel Gregory of Jacksonville, Florida, Evelyn and Carroll Webb of Tifton and Carlene and Willis Dowdy of Tifton; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Jane Dailey Baker of Clarksville, Pamela Lucas of Cochran and Glendon and Tim Cunningham of Valdosta; eight grandchildren and their spouses, John and Hannah Cravey of Tifton, Tori Giddens Hargett and husband Nic of Shalimar, Florida, Daniel Reid Bailey of Enigma, Evan Baker of Ocilla, Belynda Baker of Ocilla, Tristen Lariviere of Sumner, Maliah Baker of Sumner and Sheridan Baker of Sumner; one great-grandchild, Bently Shane Coleman; nieces and nephews, Kay and John Martin of Fort Worth, Texas, Eddie Baker of Lehigh Acres, Florida, Vivian and Eddie Johnson of Lawrenceville, Bobby Dailey of Smyrna, Tabatha and Jody Long of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Michael and Brandi Sumler of Quitman, Ivey Sumler of Chattanooga, Tennessee; several great-nieces and great-nephews; several cousins; his great-granddogs, Molly, Ginger and Ziva; and his dearest best friends, Jack Perrin of Tifton and Audrey Tilden of Covington, Louisiana.
The Baker family would like to thank the staff of Dr. Loraine Sumner and her staff at Affinity and Bethany Hospice. Mr. Baker loved his family and would help anyone he could, so in lieu of flowers, the family asked that you make a donation to Keegan Caves, a 12-year-old who is battling leukemia, 640 Broxton Highway, Fitzgerald, GA 31750 or to account for Keegan at Colony Bank in Tifton.