Saying goodbye to a friend who loved and served G-D

My Friend past away this week and here is his funeral annoncement taken from the T & D Newspaper . We thank them for giving us permission to post the notice.

Funeral for AME Presiding Elder Willie Baxter to be held Friday at 11 a.m. on SCSU campus
Funeral services for the Rev. Willie J. Baxter, 66, Presiding Elder of AME Church of the Orangeburg District, of 1058 Bramble Lane, Orangeburg, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 4, 2006, at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Center on the campus of S.C. State University, with the Rev. Preston Warren Williams II officiating and the Rev. Dr. Juenarrl Keith presiding. Burial will be in Belleville Memorial Gardens in Orangeburg.

The casket will be placed in Smith-Hammond-Middleton Center at 10 a.m. Viewing will be from 10 to 11 a.m. There will be no viewing after 11 a.m.
Pallbearers will be Orangeburg District Sons of Allen.

Honorary pallbearers will be Seventh Episcopal District Presiding Elders Council; the ministers of the AME Church; and the ministers of the Orangeburg District.
Presiding Elder Baxter died Thursday, July 27, at MUSC Hospital in Charleston.
He was born Nov. 3, 1939, in St. Matthews, a son of the late Eugene and Beulah Bell Jones Baxter. He received his formal education in the Calhoun County School system. He graduated from Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College and completed extensive Divinity coursework. He held leadership roles within the AME church in Orangeburg, Calhoun and Columbia communities.

Presiding Elder Baxter was licensed to preach at Ebenezer AME Church by the late Presiding Elder B. F. Sumpter. The late Rev. H. F. Bowman was the pastor of the church at the time. He was admitted to the Central Conference and ordained as Itinerant Deacon and Elder by the late Bishop C. A. Gibbs. Presiding Elder Baxter served over 40 years as pastor and Presiding Elder in the Central Conference. He was appointed Presiding Elder of the Wateree and Orangeburg District by Bishop John H. Adams. He served as treasurer of the Seventh Episcopal District of the AME Church.

Presiding Elder Baxter served in the United States Air Force and fought in the Korean war. He was an accomplished pilot and held the position of chairperson of the Orangeburg Aviation Commission for over 10 years.

Presiding Elder Baxter lived a full, joyous life exemplified by his devotion to God and his passion to uplift others.

Presiding Elder Baxter was predeceased by a sister, Margaret B. Stevenson; and a brother, Marion Baxter.

Survivors include his loving and devoted wife, Sarah of the home; one daughter, Gwendolyn (Eddie) Baxter-Oakley of Ayase, Japan; three sons, Quintin, Maurice and James “J.B.,” all of Orangeburg; two brothers, John W. Baxter and Eugene Baxter, both of Orangeburg; two uncles, Otis Jones of Orangeburg and Willie (Liz) Baxter of Brooklyn, N.Y.; two aunts, Katherine Major and Eula M. Baxter, both of Orangeburg; five grandchildren, Quamall Mays, Khylona Baxter, Ariana Oakley, Demenia, Kimberly and Sedaris Mays; seven sisters-in-law; four brothers-in-law; and a host of other loving relatives and wonderful friends.

Viewing will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday in the sanctuary of Williams Chapel AME Church followed by a memorial service from 6 to 7 p.m.

There will be no viewing at the funeral home.
Friends may call at the residence and Jenkins Funeral Home of Orangeburg.

Memorials may be made to the W.J. Baxter Memorial Scholarship Fund, 1058 Bramble Lane, NE, Orangeburg, SC 29115, c/o Mrs. Gwendolyn Baxter-Oakley.