Sandra Jean Whittaker Baker

SANDRA JEAN WHITTAKER BAKER, formerly of George Street, died on Saturday, Oct. 25th at Harbor Cove Memory Care on Hilton Head Island, SC.

Mrs. Baker was born Dec. 10, 1937 to the late Vance E. Whittaker and Pearl Smith Whittaker Gaines, both of Winchester, Virginia.

She married Rev. H. Eugene Baker on June 10, 1956 at the First Evangelical United Brethren Church, Winchester, known now as the First United Methodist Church, formerly on Braddock Street. Together they served churches for 41.75 years, including Churchville (EUB); Manassas (EUB); Reliance and Ridings Chapel (EUB); Lacey Springs (UMC); Reveille (UMC) in Richmond; Luray (UMC); Marsh Memorial (UMC) and Moneta’s Bethlehem (UMC), both in the Lynchburg District, and Market Street (UMC) in Winchester.

Mrs. Baker graduated from James Wood High School and attended Shenandoah Conservatory of Music, Dayton, Va. and took additional music courses at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va. She served as President of the Virginia Conference United Methodist Women's mission organization (1993-1996), where she previously served as secretary, vice president, and membership chair. Prior to becoming conference president, she served the UMC’s Women’s Division as an officer on the Southeastern Jurisdiction, as a director on the General Board of Global Ministries, and as a United Nations Interpreter. From 1976-2010, she served as a delegate to the UMC’s General Conference and Jurisdictional Conference. She taught courses on the Spiritual Growth studies for various UMC Regional Schools, as well as the Virginia Conference School of Christian Mission. She served as the Winchester District Lay Leader from 2000-2010.

Mrs. Baker was preceded in death by her husband of 56 ½ years on Feb. 23, 2013. They leave behind two daughters, Kendra Sours of Seaford, DE (Dickie Sours), and Andrea Clark of Hilton Head Island, SC (Steven Clark); one granddaughter, Chastity Dawn Sours; three step-grandchildren, Justin Clark, Brenda Kirkley, and Anna Miller; two great grandchildren, Sean Christopher Martin and Cheyenne Nicole Martin; six step great-grandchildren, and one great great-grandson. 

The funeral will be held Thursday, Nov. 6, at 1:00 p.m. at Phelps Funeral Home in Winchester, followed by a grave side service at Mt. Hebron. The family will receive friends and family before the service, starting at 11:00 a.m.

Memorials may be made to the Virginia Conference United Methodist Women's Mission organization in care of UMW Treasurer.