Obituary of Edna Baker

Edna Willard Baker, formerly of Charlotte, died on her 97th birthday at The Forest at Duke, Durham, NC, surrounded by family. She was born in Laurens, S.C., the daughter of Lydia Culbertson and George Thomas Willard. With the exception of a few years in Knoxville, Tenn., Mrs. Baker and her late husband, Marvin Eugene Baker, lived in Charlotte for most of their married life from the late 1930?s until the latter 1990?s. Since 1997, Mrs. Baker has resided at The Forest at Duke retirement community in Durham, NC. In addition to her husband, Mrs. Baker was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers and one grandson, Patrick Miller. Mrs. Baker is survived by two daughters, Sharon Baker Willits and husband, Bob, of Wheeling, W.Va., and Nancye Baker Bryan and husband, Sam, of Chapel Hill, N.C. Also surviving are four grandsons: William E. Miller of Istanbul, Turkey, Ryan Miller and wife Maryia of New York, N.Y., Needham Bryan of Durham and Sam Bryan, Jr., of Chapel Hill. A memorial service, conducted by the Rev. Bob Willits, will be held Wednesday, June 13th at 10:30 a.m. in The Forest at Duke Health and Wellness Center. Visitation will be at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Home, 1111 East Boulevard, Charlotte, on Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A graveside service will take place at Sharon Memorial Park at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 14th. Members of the family wish to express their heartfelt appreciation to staff of The Forest at Duke for their care, kindness and affection shown Mrs. Baker during her time there.