Cornelia Estelle Dodson Baker, age 99, of Randolph, VA, passed away on Saturday, June 22, 2013.Surviving are two sons, Richard D. Baker and wife, Nancy J. Baker, Glenn K. Baker and wife, Shirley K. Baker; a daughter-in-law, Gayle P. Baker; grandchildren, Cynthia Baker Towery and husband, Mark, Christopher Q. Baker and wife, Michelle, David Baker and wife, Cheryl, Daniel Baker, Angela Baker Simpson and husband, Mark, Jacqueline Baker Smyth and husband, Steve; great grandchildren, Nathan Towery, Lindsay Towery, Bradford Baker, Kayla Baker, Sarah Simpson, Clare Simpson, Alexander Baker, Grayson Baker, Brooke Smyth, Sidney Smyth. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard L. Baker; a son, Edwin Baker; thirteen brothers and sisters.
Cornelia was born in Halifax County April 7, 1914. She was raised on a tobacco farm in Charlotte County and graduated from Phenix High School. During the forties, after marriage, she lived in New Jersey before moving back to Charlotte County in 1951. Cornelia was a homemaker her entire life. She worked tirelessly on the farm alongside her husband as well as providing three hot meals a day for her family, neighborhood youth, and visiting family, nieces and nephews that helped harvest the farms crops. Her yeast rolls and her made from scratch pastries were the crowd’s favorites. Cornelia was a member of South Central Parish Quilters for many years. She loved to quilt and invited her friends into her home for Quilting Bees. Cornelia was a member of the Phenix Presbyterian Church.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 25, 2013, in the Phenix Presbyterian Church, Phenix, VA, with interment to follow in the Hermon Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Randolph, VA. The family will receive friends at Mrs. Baker’s home, 2878 Fearstown Road, Randolph, VA 23962, on Monday, June 24, 2013, from 6 to 8 p.m. Flowers are welcomed or donations may be made to the South Central Parish Quilters or the Phenix Presbyterian Church. The Browning-Duffer Funeral Home in Keysville, VA, is in charge of arrangements.
