‘Bea’ Baird

JEFFERSON – Minnie Beatrice “Bea” Kelley Baird, 101, died Wednesday, March 10, 2010.

Born on August 13, 1908, in Greene County, Tenn., she grew up in Chucky and Greenville. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ancil R. Baird Sr.; parents, Homer Albert Kelley and Leila Ellen Frazier; brothers, John Earl Kelley, Aubrey Kelley; and a sister, Mary Katherine Hamblin.

Survivors include children, Richard Kelley Baird, Ann Beatrice Baird and Ancil Roscoe Baird Jr.; grandchildren, Cynthia Marie Horsley, Richard Kelley Baird Jr., John Baird and Andrew Tice Baird; and great-grandchildren, Allison Marie Horsley, Michelle Elizabeth Horsley, Rebecca Ann Horsley, Rollins MacMillan Baird, Reagan Grace Baird, Ian Nicolas Baird and Sienna Victoria Baird.

She lived in Knoxville, Tenn., from 1938 until 2003, when she moved to Georgia to be closer to family.

She was a loving homemaker, caring mother, and a faithful Christian member of First Baptist Church Knoxville. She was skilled in handwork (quilting, sewing, crocheting, knitting), which she continued to enjoy until the last month of her life. She delighted in giving her handiwork to family, relatives, friends and the staff of her assisted living center in Jefferson.

The family would like to extend a special heart-filled thanks to the staff and nurses at the Bentley Assisted Living Center in Jefferson who through their kindness, friendship and caring attention made the last years of her life enjoyable and full of the laughs and smiles she so enjoyed throughout her long life.

Local funeral arrangements are being handled by Ivie Funeral Home of Commerce. Graveside services will be held Friday, March 12, at 1 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery in Knoxville, Tenn. Those wishing to make a memorial remembrance gift may do so by contributing to the General Fund of First Baptist Church Knoxville, Tenn., or to the building fund of First Baptist Church of Commerce. A memorial/remembrance service will be held at Bentley Assisted Living at Northminster in Jefferson on Wednesday, March 17 at 1:30 p.m. All friends of “Bea” are welcomed to attend.