Baker, Lillian

Lillian Whitmore Baker, age 94, died September 17, 2005, at Richland Place, a lifelong resident of Nashville. Preceded in death by her parents, Margaret Jane Cooper and Edwin Young Whitmore; her husband, James T. Baker, Sr., died in 1991 after sixty-one years of marriage. She is survived by her sons, James t. Baker, Jr.; Gene Arvin Baker, Sr. (Victoria), Boca Raton, FL; Ronald Wayne Baker (Judy) of Versailles, KY; sister, Frances Mortensen, Joshua, TX; brother, James Whitmore, Okeechobee, FL; nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Mrs. Baker was a member of West End Church of Christ, Gateway Acres Garden Club for over fifty-three years, and for a period of years, member of Granny White Friendship Club and Otter Creek Church of Christ. Her remains are at Brentwood-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Monday. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Tuesday, September 20, 2005, at West End Church of Christ, 3534 West End Avenue, conducted by Bro. Kenneth Dye. Mrs. Baker’s body will lie in state one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Memorials may be made to West End Church of Christ or the Charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Brentwood-Roesch-Patton Funeral Home, 9010 Church St. E., Brentwood, 615- 373-3040.

Among the other speakers at her funeral were Mack Wayne Craig and her grandson Ward Baker, who gave the eulogy.

Comments by Pam White

Lillian Baker was a quiet woman. She was a willowy beauty, much beloved by family and friends, who served tirelessly behind the scenes. There will never be a count of the meals she prepared or the hospital and nursing home visits she made. Her sons, particularly eldest son, Jimmy, Jr., took care that her car was not only washed and waxed, but carefully detailed each week. She was the sister of long-time Otter Creek member Ed Whitmore, who owned the store at the corner of Granny White and Otter Creek Road, which became the “Purple Cow.”