Gracie Mae Frances “Sister” Purvis Baker, 89, of Enigma went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, November 14, 2012, at Rehabilitation Services of South Georgia, formerly Tift Health Care. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 18, 2012, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Rev. Joe Wiggins will officiate with burial to follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery. Great-grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 17, 2012, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mrs. Baker was born on September 28, 1923 in Tift County and was the daughter of Eddie D. Purvis, Sr. and Jessie Lue Baker Purvis, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Elbert J. “Jay” Baker, Sr.; three sons, Elbert J. “Butch” Baker Jr., Eddie D. “Donnie” Baker Sr. and Darrell Rowland Baker; two brothers, Eddie D. “Jimbo” Purvis, Jr. and Austin Cecil Purvis; one sister, Lois Purvis; four brothers-in-law, Elzie Baker, Oscar DelLano, Lawrence Gregory, and Jerry Burgess; one sister-in-law, Annette Baker; and one nephew, Danny Gregory. She was a member of Unity Tabernacle Church and served as secretary for over 30 years.
Mrs. Baker is survived by three sisters and their spouses, Evelyn and Carroll Webb and Carlene and Willis Dowdy, all of Tifton and Hazel Gregory of Jacksonville, Florida; a brother-in-law, Ralph Baker of Moultrie; two sisters-in-law, Monita Burgess of Saint Augustine, Florida and Tex DelLano of Tampa, Florida; two daughters-in-law, Phyllis Baker of Enigma and Jane Baker of Clarksdale; her grandchildren and their spouses, Elaine Baker Bailey of Enigma, Kay and John Martin of Fort Worth, Texas, Eddie Baker of Lehigh Acres, Florida, Vivian and Eddie Johnson of Lawrenceville, Elbert J. “Elmo” Baker III of Enigma, Bobby Dailey of Smyrna, David and Regina Robinson of Vanceville, Donnie Bromlow of Tifton, Trampus and Karina Bromlow of Rome and Michelle Mitchell of Tifton; her great-grandchildren and their spouses, John and Hannah Cravey of Scooterville, Tori and Nic Hargett and Daniel Bailey, all of Crestview, Florida, Chris Aultman of Lus Cruces, New Mexico, Josh Martin of Fort Worth, Texas, Ashley Baker of Cape Coral, Florida, Hunter Baker of Lehigh Acres, Florida, Lacie and Matthew Cranford of Hawkinsville, Zach and Molly Akin of Cochran, Randy and Kayla Dailey of Tifton, Evan Baker and Belynda Baker, both of Ocilla, Tristen Lariviere, Sheridan Baker and Maliah Rae Baker, all of Sumner; 11 great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
The Baker family would like to thank the staff of Rehabilitation Services of South Georgia, Bethany Hospice and Jill Roberts.