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, Grace Poe, Carter Poe, Clair 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-Douglas Center for the Arts, 217 Tuscaloosa Street, Florence, AL 35630.
Ingram Funeral Home and Crematory, Cumming, Ga., is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be made at ingramfuneralhome.com.
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