Randall Wayne Baker

Randall Wayne Baker, age 86, a long time resident of the Hilltown community, passed away Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at his home surrounded by his loving family.

A funeral service will held on Saturday, September 8 ^th at 2:00pm in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home with Eddie Miller and Keith Baker officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends on Saturday from 12-2pm at the funeral home. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Born on January 3, 1932 in Maury County, Randall was the son of the late Benton Hunter Baker and the late Mary Louise Archer Baker. He was the sixth of ten children. He attended Sylvan Heights and Santa Fe High School. He graduated in 1950 and was Valedictorian of his senior class.

On November 8, 1952, he married his loving wife and caregiver Jean Johnson Baker in Iuka, Mississippi. Several years ago they made a trip to Iuka to see their names in the official record book.

In 1952, Randall went to work for Union Carbide Corporation where he worked as a supervisor on the yard department. He worked there for thirty-four and a half years before taking an early retirement in 1986. Following retirement, he worked construction with his nephews. Randall was talented in all aspects of building and construction. When he was in good health, he enjoyed keeping his yard cut, growing a garden and bush hogging his property.

He is survived by his beautiful wife of sixty-five years, Jean Baker; his children: Don Baker, Nancy Baker (Roger) Sullivan, Larry (Pamela) Baker, and David Baker all of Santa Fe; grandchildren: Jason (Sherri) Baker of Bon Aqua, Amanda (Josh) Oliver of Columbia, and Brittany (Kyle) Smithson of Spring Hill; great grandchildren: Kaylee Baker of Columbia, Acelyn Baker, Hunter Larkins, and Lexie Larkins of Bon Aqua, Cannon Oliver and Avie Oliver of Columbia; sisters: Colleen (Tom) Hargrove and Gaye Baker Peach both of Santa Fe; sister-in-law: Virginia Layman Baker of Blacksburg, VA; brothers-in-law: Jason (Trisha) Holt of Goose Creek, SC, and Alfred Johnson of Springfield.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson: Christopher Adam Baker; brothers: Vernon Baker, Roger Baker, Jerry Baker; sisters: Esta Holt, Thelma Howlett, Maxine Lockhart, Evelyn Baker; sisters-in-law: Donna Baker and Zelphia Johnson; brothers-in-law: Church Howlett, Kenneth Peach, Jack Lockhart, and Lloyd Lee Johnson; and niece: Kristi Gaye Peach.

Pallbearers will be: Steve Lockhart, Marty Lockhart, Lindon Baker, Jason Baker, Joe Hargrove, Kyle Smithson, Josh Oliver, and James Kelley.

Honorary pallbearers include his coworkers at Union Carbide.

The family requests memorial donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research: P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014, the American Cancer Society: 2000 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN 37023, or the Santa Fe School Library: 2629 Santa Fe Pike, Santa Fe, TN 38482.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Ben Gardner, the staff of Hospice Compassus, the NHC Rehab Center staff, and his special angel nurse, Cindi Brooks.