ASHEVILLE – Samuel Hope Baker, 82, of Asheville passed away on Friday, August 5, 2011 after a long illness. He was born September 1, 1928 to the late Roy N. Baker and Mary Lucy Shoulars Baker in Jackson in Northampton County.

Left to cherish his memories is his daughter, Deborah Kaye Baker and her friend, Susan Harris, of their home in Asheville; sisters, Alice A. Baker, Dorothy L. Baker, Frances Baker McCarthy, Lucy Lake Baker and Faye Baker Fulton, all of Kelford, NC, Helen Baker Robbins of Clarksville, TN and Winford Baker Williford of Vale, NC; brothers Rev. Robert E. Baker of Cobbs Creek, VA and Jerry R. Baker of Kelford, NC; and dear friends of the family, Marie Peterson and sons of Leicester, NC.

Besides his parents, he was predeceased by brothers Frank Harrison Baker and Roy Edward Baker of the home; sisters, Beulah Baker White of Francis Mill, NC and Clara Baker Showalter of Brandywine, MD; his wife, Dorothy Abbott Baker of Newport News, VA and Hilda Bell Bass Baker of Rich Square, NC.

Sam worked on the family farm until he graduated from Lewiston Woodville High School. Other places of employment included Lee Lumber Company in Windsor, NC, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, worked in the Ship Yard and at a chemical plant in Newport News, VA, at Harrington Manufacturing Company in Lewiston, NC, was a guard at Odom Prison in Jackson, NC and also worked on his cousin J.G. Baker’s hog farm, which he enjoyed very much.

His hobbies included living life, encouraging children and people who didn’t know how to move forward with their lives as he helped them see their worth and ways to help themselves. He loved gardening, planting seeds and vegetables and seeds of faith. He was appreciative of people and kind deeds.

A celebration of his life was held on August 13, 2011 at his church, Zion Hill Baptist Church in Leicester, NC.