Nelda Faye (Burkes) Baker of Flowood, MS was eternally healed from dementia on Sunday, October 3, 2021. She was 80 years old. She was welcomed into her heavenly home by her husband, parents, and brothers who predeceased her.
She was born on August 5, 1941 to the late Turner Wesley Burkes and the late Exie Robinson Burkes in Hillsboro, MS. She graduated from Pearl High School in 1959 and then attended junior college at East Central Community College. After junior college, she began her career at Mississippi Valley Gas Company where she met her future husband, Robert Morris Baker. Faye and Morris dated 15 years prior to marrying in 1985. The couple lived in Jackson, MS, then moved to Grenada, MS where Morris was a manager at the gas company. Faye retired from MS Valley Gas after over 20 years of service while in Grenada. They enjoyed their many years in Grenada and made many life-long friends there. After Morris’s retirement, they moved back to Flowood, MS, to be close to family. Faye and Morris never had children of their own, but they always played a big role in the lives of their nieces and nephews. “Aunt Faye”, as she was fondly known to everyone, never missed sending a birthday or holiday card to her friends and family. She loved flowers and gardening, and up until her illness, she always had a garden with fresh vegetables and beautiful flowers. She had the sweetest spirit and was always encouraging. She was never seen without her hair, makeup, and nails done, and she had a great love of jewelry, even into her last days. She was the epitome of the proper Southern Lady.
Faye is survived by her life-long best friend, Joyce Tolleson Bowers, her sisters-in-law, Diann (Burkes) Fortenberry and Connie (Burkes) Watters; her nieces: Bethany Burkes, Lisa Dyess, Teresa Gray, Kim Sheffield; her nephews: Del Watters and Todd Burkes, as well as 19 great nieces and nephews and 10 great-great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Turner Wesley and Exie Aline Burkes, her brothers Gilbert Thomas Burkes and Michael Wesley Burkes, and her husband of 35 years, Robert Morris Baker.
A brief visitation for family and close friends will be held at 9:30 A. M. on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at Lakewood Funeral Home in Jackson, MS with a graveside service to follow at 10:00 at the Lakewood Cemetery Pavilion at 6000 Clinton Blvd., Jackson, MS 39209. The service will be officiated by Bro. Calvin Williams of Pearson Baptist Church in Pearl, MS.
The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at Ridgeland Place, Wisteria Gardens in Pearl, MS and Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland, MS for the love and care they gave our Aunt Faye over the last year.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lakewoodfuneraljackson.com for the Baker family.
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