Obituary of Will Baker

Mr. Will Baker, 80, of Jacksonville, FL passed away on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, after a long illness. Mr. Baker was born in Bryan, Georgia to the late Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Baker (Margaret Walthour). As a young child into young adulthood he lived in Waynesville, GA and left for Jacksonville, FL after graduating from Waycross’ Center High School. Mr. Baker worked at the Jacksonville Shipyards and other places before securing employment at Anheuser-Busch, Inc, where he retired after 36 years. He was a proud member and former office holder of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Union 947 and a founding member and office holder of the Bud-Jax Credit Union (now Coastline Federal Credit Union). Mr. Baker was a member and faithful attender of his family’s home church, Emanuel Missionary Baptist Church (Jacksonville, FL) before his illness. He was a believer and lived his faith. He was also well-known for his culinary skills with exotic fare (e.g., venison, goat, seafood, squirrel, raccoon, opossum, etc., etc.), cakes (lemon, pound, strawberry, and Friendship (30 day cake) along with his famous deviled crabs—some loved calling him “The Cake Man” and “The Deviled Crab Man.” He and Fannie (née Womack) were joined in matrimony April 14, 1962. Mr. Baker was a lover of life, politics, he was an avid voter, master gamesman, hunter, bargain seeker, cook, traveler, reader, lifelong learner with the occasional malaprop, helper, he was industrious and generous, an atlas and almanac enthusiast, a thinker, terrific mathematician, champion of civil and employee rights, devoted family man, a sage, and until the latter part of his life EVERY time (day or night) before he would lie down, he would pray on bended knees. In life, Mr. Baker helped and was helped by many people—he had many friends and few foes—he believed in the family of community; to that end, Mr. Baker had friends of every ethnicity, religious belief, and socio-economic status. He was preceded in death by his brother, Frank H. Baker and son, Perry “Don” Womack. Survivors include: wife of 59 years, Fannie M. Womack of Jacksonville, FL; daughter, Felicia Baker-Davis and son-in-law, Michael O. Davis of Chesapeake, VA; grandson Evan O’Neal Davis of Chesapeake, VA; siblings, Rhoaden Baker Anderson of Nahunta, GA, Samuel Baker of Ocilla, GA, and Leslie Baker of Jacksonville, FL; great-aunt, Mary Dudley of Midway, GA; Sister-in-law Bessie R. Cohen, Sister-in-law, Mildred Baker of Jacksonville, FL; Brother-in-law, Reverend William L. Womack (Johnnie) of Atlanta, GA; devoted family and friends, Freddie L. Walthour of Jacksonville, FL, Charlie Swain of Jacksonville, FL, and Walter Dennis of Catherine, AL and Detroit, MI; nieces and nephews, Betty Forrest (Vernon Sr.) of Jacksonville, FL, Yvonne Guye of Jacksonville, FL, Frank Baker (Rose Marie) of Jacksonville, FL, Larry Baker of Jacksonville, FL, Deborah Baker of Nahunta, GA, Angela Baker Robinson of Nahunta, GA, Calvin Baker (Terri) of Brunswick, GA, Rita Pugh of Warner Robins, GA, Corey Carnes (Desiree) of Jacksonville, FL; cousins, Rep. Al Williams of Midway, GA, Carolyn Walthour Moore (William) of Jacksonville, FL, Della Walthour of Jacksonville, FL, Debra Walthour Easton (Scott) of Jacksonville, FL, Darlene Walthour Grant (Leroy) of Jacksonville, FL, Robert Walthour (Gwen) of Hawthorne, FL, Leon Jackson of Jacksonville, FL, Leroy Jackson of Jacksonville, FL, Cynthia (Albert) Williams of Jacksonville, FL, Richard S. Hanna (Annette) of Atlanta, GA, Albert C. Hanna (Georgette) of Jacksonville, FL, Sherman S. Styles (Joan) of Abbeville, GA; in-laws, Linda K. Davis of Harrisburg, PA and Leisa F. Davis of Lawrenceville, GA; Longtime friends: Marion Scott (Jackie) of Jacksonville, FL, Richard McConago (Annie) of Jacksonville, FL, Marvin Franklin (Dee) of Jacksonville, FL, Connie Hodges of Jacksonville, FL, James “Lieutenant” Harris of Jacksonville, FL, Henry Abels of Yulee, FL, James “Puddin” Reaves of Jacksonville, FL, Inez Jones of Waynesville, GA, Donald Dilmuth of Florida, Sylvania Dawson of Jacksonville, FL, John Adkins of Jacksonville, FL, James “Bro” Johnson of Atlanta, GA; the 1960 class of Center High School, Waycross, GA, and a host of other sorrowing family and friends.