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Ellen Olive Griffin Baker

Ellen Olive Griffin Baker formerly of Leesburg, died in Raleigh, NC on April 8, 2009.   She had been living with cancer for 18 months and became ill a few weeks prior to her death.   

Mrs. Baker was born in Charlotte, NC on April 21, 1940.  Her parents were the late Leslie L. Griffin and the late Frances Green Griffin Scheuing, both of Albany.  Mrs. Baker graduated from Albany High School in 1958 and then attended Valdosta State College.

In 1959, she married the late Henry Barrett Baker.  The made their family life together in Dougherty and Lee County for the next three decades staying busy with their four children, careers, and many civic involvements. 

Mrs. Baker was active with the Faculty Wives Club of Albany Junior College (now Darton College) for several decades and as a volunteer with the Lee County Schools in many capacities including roles in  Booster programs for the athletic, band, and debate programs.  Her professional endeavors were primarily in the field of corporate recruiting. 

She spent nearly two decades as a small business owner, first as a partner in a Bryant Bureau franchise, then as the sole owner of Baker Employment Bureau in Albany.  Her specialty was making placements in the manufacturing management and engineering fields.

Subsequent to her husband's retirement from Darton College, Mrs. Baker closed her business and moved with him to Wilson, NC in 1989.  There they worked together in the non-profit sector, helping to serve the needs of low income and minority people who faced environmental problems.  They helped launch the NC Environmental Justice Roundtable and worked to bring resources to communities in need of clean drinking water. 

After her husbands' death in 1997, Mrs. Baker continued to work in a variety of roles for several non-profits including Southerners for Economic Justice and with Liberty House of Albany, where she worked as a victim's advocate with the court system. 

After her retirement, Mrs. Baker became a lover of travel.  She divided her time between homes in Leesburg, GA, Raleigh, NC, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and she wintered in Englewood, Florida.  Her travels took her as far as England, France, and Alaska in recent years.

Mrs. Baker was predeceased by her parents, her husband, and two of her brothers, Jesse Griffin and Jon Griffin.  She is survived by her companion, David Portman, four children, Cedric Baker and his wife, Suda Kraprayoon of Roswell, Georgia, Burt Baker and his wife Sherry of Cordele, Georgia, Fred Baker and his wife, Amy of Wake Forest, NC, and Margaret Baker Strickland and her husband, Bowe of Raleigh, NC.,  her brother, Don Griffin of Moneta, Virginia,four grandchildren,  Jonathan Baker of Cordele, Georgia, Bradley Rozell of Wake Forest, NC, Sarah Ellen Strickland and Banks Strickland of Raleigh, NC,  brother-in-law Buzz Baker of Goldsboro, NC, sisters-in-law, Floy McGarrity and husband, Mike of Powder Springs, Ga and Barbara Shaver of Powder Springs, Ga. plus many devoted nieces and nephews. 

The service of celebration of life will be Thursday, April 16^th at 3 p.m. at the Lutheran Church of our Saviour ELCA with a brief graveside service afterward at Floral Memory Gardens.  The Rev. Dr. Harvey L. Huntley will officiate.  The family will receive friends 6 PM to 8 PM, Wednesday at Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors.

Memorial contributions to the following charities are encouraged for those who wish to honor Mrs. Baker with a remembrance:  Duke Children's Hospital, Durham, NC,  Legal Aid of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC,  Liberty House of Albany, and the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour ELCA, Leesburg,

You may sign the online registration and share your own memories with the family of Mrs. Baker by visiting Kimbrell-Stern's web site at www.kimbrellstern.com.