Johnny 'Son' Baker

Mr. Johnny "Son" Baker, 85, of Gilmore, died of heart failure Monday, Oct. 8, 2012, in West Memphis. Born Sept. 27, 1927, in Frenchman's Bayou, he was a retired mechanic and an usher at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Turrell.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Solomon Dean Baker and Frankie Baker; two daughters, Dorothy Coleman and Ruthie Williams; and four brothers, Eddie Hendrix, Robert Johnson, Bill Johnson and John Lee Baker.

Mr. Baker leaves his wife, Ruthie Mae Baker of Gilmore;

Four sons, Sudan Omar (and Dean) of Elkhart, Ind., Tony Baker of Grand Rapids, Mich., Danny Baker (and Annie) of West Memphis, and Solomon Baker (and Shirley) of Marked Tree;

Five daughters, Mattie Williams (and Richard) of Marion, Barbara Baker and Betty Baker of St. Louis, and Annie Baker and Mildred Baker of Grand Rapids;

He also raised Marvella Doyle, Willie Mae Jones, and Willie Jones; and

A host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the Wilson Funeral Home in Tyronza. Funeral services, officiated by Pastor Donald E. Wilson, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Turrell. Burial will follow at Marion Memorial Cemetery.