Mr. James Baker, son of the late Aaron Edward Baker and Bertha Mae Young Baker, was born on April 12, 1928. He departed this life on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, in Kings Mountain, N.C. following an extended illness.
He attended High School and was a Welder. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Keon Baker; two sisters, Lettie Baker Redmon and Elizabeth Baker; and a niece, Mary Summers.
He leaves to cherish the memory of his life, two sons, Dennis (Audrey) Baker of Statesville and Jerry Baker of New York; one daughter, Sherry Buchanan of Kings Mountain; four step-sons, John (Fonda) Houze of Kings Mountain, Eugene (Helen) Hauze of Grover, Bobby (Dora) Houze of Charlotte and Billy (Karen) Houze of Kings Mountain; a sister, Priscilla Holmes of Statesville; three grandchildren, Preston Baker, Cherrelle Baker and Ashlyn Baker; a great grandson, Keja Baker; several nieces and nephews, William (Maxine) Nesbitt of Georgia, Gary (Dorothy Sharpe, Lamont Holmes, LaKesha Holmes, Chrystal Brown and Barbara Nesbitt; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Celebration of Life Services will be conducted Monday, April 6, 2020, at 2 p.m. at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home. Rev. John Lewis Houze will officiate. Mr. Baker will remain at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home where general public viewing will begin Sunday, April 5, 2020, until 7 p.m. and resume on Monday morning, April 6, 2020, until the funeral hour.
There will be no public visitation; however, general public viewing until the service on Sunday, April 5, 2020, until 7 p.m. and Monday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. until he is taken to the church to lie in state.
Unfortunately, with the COVID-19 crisis, Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home, along with other funeral homes across the country, have been issued a mandate to limit the number of family and/or friends at funeral services. You can only enter the funeral with a funeral pass, which will be given to the family.
Visit the Book of Memories for Mr. Baker at www.rutledgeandbigham.com. Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home is serving the Baker Family.