James M. Baker

When James M. Baker (known simply as “Baker” by those who knew him best) was a young clerk in the US Post Office, he would find among the bushel-loads of mail he would have to sort, picture postcards from all over the country and, indeed, the world. Coming from a small, rustic farm in Weakley County, Tennessee, Baker would look wistfully at each one, pledging that he would himself go to these far-off places. And he did. An accomplished photographer, he, with his beloved wife, Sue, and their children, traveled to every state in the union - including virtually all of the national parks - and four continents.

Born in 1926 in Sharon, Tennessee, to Roy M. Baker and Zella Mae Baker Casey, Baker never imagined the life God had in store for him - serving his country in the US Navy in the World War II Pacific Theatre - and moving to Memphis in 1947 with his new bride with whom he would share life for nearly 74 years. In Memphis, they began a whole new life.

Baker found a 33-year career at the Post Office rising from entry-level clerk to Assistant Manager of the Germantown and Frazier offices. In addition to his travels, this inspired hobbies in coin and stamp collecting.

Those were minor past times compared to his being a master woodworker, designing and building everything from wooden pens to large, ornate pieces of cabinetry. Baker’s farm past also followed him with his love affair with the life-giving qualities of the earth - be it roses or vegetables - from asparagus to zucchini.

As a teenager, Baker felt the Hand of God on his shoulder, leading him to life-long service to God and God’s church. For 68 years, until its closing in 2019, Baker was a true servant leader at Highland Heights United Methodist Church. Whether as a youth leader, a baritone in the choir, feeding the neighborhood’s hungry, cleaning up communities after natural disasters, or especially, just keeping the Church together through grit and grind, Baker personified, into his 90’s, God’s command to love and to serve. The congregation officially recognized Baker as its “Unsung Hero” for the work he had done quietly and humbly over the years.

Outside the Church, Baker sought out ways to make Memphis an even better place to live - by volunteering, over decades, at the Orpheum, Theatre Memphis and the Cannon Center for Performing Arts.

In addition to his wife, Sue, Baker leaves his daughter and son-in-law, Darlene and Rob Williamson, his son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Jackie Baker, grandchildren Richard Williamson and his wife Allison, Susan Epperson and her husband, Mark, Jeanette Covel and her husband Daniel, and James Robert Baker as well as 5 great-grandchildren - Ethan, Emory, Eliza, Baker and Henry. He also leaves his brother, Bobby Baker, and nephew Brian Baker.

The visitation will be held from 1:30 p.m., Sunday, March 28, 2021 until the service time at 2:00 p.m., in the Rotunda at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Baker’s name are welcome to be sent to the The Mid-south Food Bank https://www.midsouthfoodbank.org/ ways-to-give-donate or Heifer International https://www.heifer.org/usa/ show-your-support.html