Eleanor Sherman Baker, age 83, of Florence, Ala., died Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. She was born Aug. 10, 1929, in Jasper, Ala.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband, James (Jim) Goodman Baker of Florence; parents, Tommie Lou Sherman and James Edward Sherman of Florence; sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Joe Bullington of Littleville and brother-in-law, Jerry Baker of Sheffield.
Eleanor, an avid collector of southern folk and outsider art, for many years the chairman of Arts Alive, gourmet cook, world traveler, wonderful loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Survivors include her daughter, Jana Baker Myers and husband, Richard C. Myers, of Atlanta, Ga.; her daughter, Marla Baker Poe of Cumming, Ga.; her son, Bruce Cameron Baker and his wife, Marli Knust Baker, of Winterville, N.C.; seven grandchildren, Hadley Poe (Jim) McGregor, Conner Atkinson (Aleshia) Poe, Benjamin Carl (Beth) Myers, Brennan Jefferson (Adrienne) Poe, Kate Myers (Grant) MacCoy, Cameron Baker and Bradley Baker; seven great-grandchildren, Zane Poe, Bo McGregor, Grace Poe, Carter Poe, Claire Myers, Logyn Poe and Wyatt Poe.
“Reach out your hand in comfort and cheer, and I in turn will comfort you and hold you near; and never, never be afraid to die, for I am waiting for you in the sky” part of a poem from Eleanor’s favorite poet, Helen Steiner Rice.
There will be a private family memorial service at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts, 217 East Tuscaloosa Street, Florence, AL 35630.
Ingram Funeral Home & Crematory, Cumming, Ga., is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be made at www.ingramfuneralhome.com.
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