Vonelle Lewis Baker

November 28, 1938 - March 16, 2019

Vonelle Lewis Baker, 80, an extraordinary mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away March 16, 2019 in the early morning hours at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. She was born to James Bedford and Idell Woods Lewis on November 28, 1938 in Henderson County, TN. Her lifelong love for her parents was evident and she was there taking care of them to the very end. She was a caring big sister to her brother, McArthur Lewis, who she loved dearly. She recounted special memories to her family of growing up in a more simple time and place. She was educated in Lexington City Schools and graduated from Lexington High School in 1957. She enjoyed working at National Shoe Store in Lexington during her youth. She graduated from West Tennessee Business College and McCollum & Ross Beauty School. She utilized her beauty school skills she acquired lovingly fixing her mother and mother-in-law’s hair every week for Sunday morning church. She also attended Jackson State Community College. She inherited her mother’s knack for being financially savvy. Thus, she spent most of her career working in the banking industry. After a brief employment with Union Planters Bank Memphis, she returned to Lexington as an office employee for Brown Shoe Co. and later as a bookkeeper for First National Bank. In 1968 she became one of the first employees of Citizens State Bank, Parsons, TN as a teller/bookkeeper, eventually becoming a Cashier where she remained until her retirement. She married Thomas D. Baker on December 24, 1959. In their 40 plus years of marriage, they built a home with their own hands where they raised a family. Together, they were active members of their community serving in various civic clubs and through their church. She was preceded in death by him on March 4, 2003. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and was baptized in Etheridge Wood Pond as a member of Bible Grove Baptist Church in Lexington, TN. For most of her adult life, she was a member of Calvary Baptist Church of Parsons, TN where she raised her family and was an active member of the WMU. For the past few years, she was a member of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, TN where she had moved to be closer to her daughter, Katrina. Flower gardening and enjoying the outdoors were her favorite past times. While raising her family, she made sure they traveled and developed a great love of history and historical places. She personally had traveled extensively in the United States and to Canada and Switzerland. Her family enjoyed so many special days just being together and enjoying the beautiful Tennessee River, made even more special by her preparation of good food. She was especially fond of roller skating in her youth and then owned and operated, along with her parents, a roller skating rink in both Lexington and Parsons. She is survived by one brother, McArthur Lewis of Lexington, TN; a daughter, Katrina Nell Baker Carrington (husband Pat) of Jackson, TN; a son Lance Alworth Baker (wife Sherry) of Clarksville, TN; grandchildren, Ellen Carrington Shelton (husband Cole) along with great-granddaughter Willa Lei Shelton of Dyersburg, TN; Bradford Lee Carrington (wife Rebekah) of Charleston, South Carolina; Amber Sharee Baker of Columbus, Ohio; William Addison Baker, Maegan Grace Baker, and Katelyn Belle Baker of Clarksville, TN. She is also survived by a large extended family she loved dearly. Her family experiences joy that her days of suffering from long term health issues are over, but are proud to recall her life of service to her family. She will be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother who always placed her family before herself. Pallbearers to serve will be Pat Carrington, Bradford Carrington, William “Will” Baker, Cole Shelton, Bobby Harrington, and Jerry Wood. The family wishes to give special thanks to the many caregivers who have been by their side during her extended illness; especially Mary Turner who has been a dedicated caregiver and friend over the past year. Visitation will be held at Reed’s Chapel in Lexington Tennessee on Sunday, March 17, 2019 from 2:00 pm - 8:00 p.m. and on Monday, March 18, 2019 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. at Reed’s Chapel on Monday following visitation with Pastor Clint Sanders officiating with burial to follow in Lexington Cemetery.