Sylvia Guyanne Drew Baker, age 64, our beloved mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, teacher and friend to many died Friday, January 8, 2010, of a yet undiagnosed blood disorder and related complications.
Guyanne was born October 22, 1945 in Cleveland, Miss. to Guy Percy Drew, Sr. and Sylvia Menking Drew and grew up in nearby Greenville, Miss., where she graduated Greenville High School in 1963. A diligent and bright high school student, she fell in love with Latin and would meet often to discuss and study Latin, History and Literature with her close friends.
Guyanne attended Bob Jones University, married Charles E. Baker December 1966, graduated June 1967, majoring in secondary education, and began her teaching career at Berea High School in Greenville, S.C. In 1970, she and her husband relocated to Birmingham. Her five children were born between 1970 and 1979. In the mid 1980s, Guyanne began working on her masters degrees at University of Alabama-Birmingham, majoring in English and graduating in the late 1980s, at which time she accepted a position on the English faculty of Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham.
Teaching literature and creative writing at Jefferson State became Guyanne's passion. She not only loved the literary works of authors but the stories behind the authors, the literary movements, and the connection between literature and the everyday life of the common-man as well. In the process of teaching, she won numerous teaching awards, but more importantly, developed a love and enthusiasm for her students and the faculty and staff of the college. She was as comfortable in a discussion with the college president as she was with the campus janitorial staff. She touched the lives of thousands of students during her career - cheering them on to believe in themselves, to do great things and to push themselves beyond their perceived limits.
A people-person with a continually giving and can-do spirit, Guyanne was a beautiful, fun-loving woman whose huge heart was exceeded only by her gigantic infectious laugh. Guyanne possessed an unfailing spirit along with unconditional love for anyone she encountered, especially her children. She was a wonderfully eccentric and magnificently quirky lady who had great faith.
Guyanne is preceded in death by her parents and her half brother Guy Drew, Jr. She leaves behind her husband, Charles Estell Baker of Birmingham, Ala.; her sons, Wesley Drew Baker (Mary Angeline Stewart) of Anniston, Ala., Samuel Woodford Baker of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Charles Robert Ian Baker of Birmingham, Ala.; her daughters, Mayme Estelle Baker (Frederick Cavanaugh Herlong) and GraceAnna Baker (Matthew Kinard Johnson), both of Greenville, S.C.; her half sister, Martha Ann Drew Frank of Paducah, Ky.; her brother, Daniel F. Drew of Walnut Creek, Calif.; her sister, Kathryn R. Drew Birck of Fredericksburg, Texas; six nephews; five nieces; and six grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Guyanne D. Baker Book Fund, Jefferson State Community College, Attn: Mr. David Morris, 2601 Carson Road, Birmingham, AL 35215. This endowment, which will aid needy students with textbooks and supplies, was created to carry on her mission to make education available to everyone and in her memory by her five children.
Robert Wylie
Sylvia Guyanne Drew Baker
Sylvia Guyanne Drew Baker, age 64, our beloved mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, teacher and friend to many died Friday, January 8, 2010, of a yet undiagnosed blood disorder and related complications.
Guyanne was born October 22, 1945 in Cleveland, Miss. to Guy Percy Drew, Sr. and Sylvia Menking Drew and grew up in nearby Greenville, Miss., where she graduated Greenville High School in 1963. A diligent and bright high school student, she fell in love with Latin and would meet often to discuss and study Latin, History and Literature with her close friends.
Guyanne attended Bob Jones University, married Charles E. Baker December 1966, graduated June 1967, majoring in secondary education, and began her teaching career at Berea High School in Greenville, S.C. In 1970, she and her husband relocated to Birmingham. Her five children were born between 1970 and 1979. In the mid 1980s, Guyanne began working on her masters degrees at University of Alabama-Birmingham, majoring in English and graduating in the late 1980s, at which time she accepted a position on the English faculty of Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham.
Teaching literature and creative writing at Jefferson State became Guyanne's passion. She not only loved the literary works of authors but the stories behind the authors, the literary movements, and the connection between literature and the everyday life of the common-man as well. In the process of teaching, she won numerous teaching awards, but more importantly, developed a love and enthusiasm for her students and the faculty and staff of the college. She was as comfortable in a discussion with the college president as she was with the campus janitorial staff. She touched the lives of thousands of students during her career - cheering them on to believe in themselves, to do great things and to push themselves beyond their perceived limits.
A people-person with a continually giving and can-do spirit, Guyanne was a beautiful, fun-loving woman whose huge heart was exceeded only by her gigantic infectious laugh. Guyanne possessed an unfailing spirit along with unconditional love for anyone she encountered, especially her children. She was a wonderfully eccentric and magnificently quirky lady who had great faith.
Guyanne is preceded in death by her parents and her half brother Guy Drew, Jr. She leaves behind her husband, Charles Estell Baker of Birmingham, Ala.; her sons, Wesley Drew Baker (Mary Angeline Stewart) of Anniston, Ala., Samuel Woodford Baker of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Charles Robert Ian Baker of Birmingham, Ala.; her daughters, Mayme Estelle Baker (Frederick Cavanaugh Herlong) and GraceAnna Baker (Matthew Kinard Johnson), both of Greenville, S.C.; her half sister, Martha Ann Drew Frank of Paducah, Ky.; her brother, Daniel F. Drew of Walnut Creek, Calif.; her sister, Kathryn R. Drew Birck of Fredericksburg, Texas; six nephews; five nieces; and six grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Guyanne D. Baker Book Fund, Jefferson State Community College, Attn: Mr. David Morris, 2601 Carson Road, Birmingham, AL 35215. This endowment, which will aid needy students with textbooks and supplies, was created to carry on her mission to make education available to everyone and in her memory by her five children.
Ridouts Roebuck Chapel, Birmingham, Ala.
Published in The Greenville News on Jan. 17, 2010
You can visit Guyanne's memorial at Find-a-grave.com