Clema O. Baker

Mrs. Clema Ogburn Wall Baker, 93, went into the arms of Jesus on January 6, 2017. She was born August 23, 1923, in Chesterfield County, S. C. She was the daughter of John B. Ogburn and Ola Horton Ogburn. She was the first of three children. Her brother William was born in 1925, and Horton was born in 1927.

She grew up on a farm in Chesterfield County, graduated from Jefferson High School in 1941, and moved to Charlotte in 1943, to find work. She met Leon Wall in 1945, after he returned from Army service in WWII. Leon nicknamed her “Judy” because she reminded him of Judy Garland. They married in 1947. Later,” Judy” and Leon moved to St. Louis, Missouri where they worked in the Federal Records Center and became involved in Delmar Baptist Church and the ‘101 Sunday School Class’. Their son, Ronnie, was born in 1953, and the family of three enjoyed being part of the Christian fellowship of Delmar Baptist and its activities until 1964, when Leon was killed in a car accident.

Clema “Judy” and Ronnie moved to Mt. Pisgah, S.C. in 1964, to live near her brothers and their families. Clema met Lewis Carroll Baker in 1965. They married in 1966, and became a family of five including Carroll’s children, Beverly and Phillip from his first marriage. Clema and Carroll were part of First Baptist Church of Kershaw, and enjoyed traveling and square dancing. Clema enjoyed working in the Preschool Kindergarten at First Baptist Church in Kershaw for several years, and volunteering in many positions in her church. They became grandparents several times over. Carroll died after fighting cancer in 1989, leaving Clema a widow for a second time.

Clema chose to remain unmarried, enjoying her grandchildren, friends, square dancing, and traveling for several years.

Clema is survived by her son, Ronnie Wall and his wife Kathy Elliott Wall; a step daughter, Beverly Baker Mobley, and step daughter-in-law Graceann Clyburn Jones and her husband, Charles Jones. Grandchildren: Noel Wall Picou and her husband, Nick Picou, Elliott Wall, Oliver Wall, Eric Mobley, Kate M. Beacham and her husband, Michael Beacham, Anna Baker Gunn and her husband Matthew Gunn, Lara Baker Catoe and her husband Mike Catoe and Jonathan Baker and his wife, Crystal Baker. She is also survived by her great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, and many other family and friends.

A service to celebrate her life will be held at 2:00 o’clock p.m., Monday, January 9, 2017, in the Chapel of Baker Funeral Home, 210 E. Hilton Street, Kershaw. The Revs. Bill Truesdale and Bryant D. Fersner will officiate.

A private burial will precede the service for family and close friends in the Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church Cemetery, Jefferson, S.C. She will be laid to rest next to her first husband in the Ogburn family plot.

The family will greet friends immediately following the celebration of life service at the funeral home.

A public viewing will be available for those desiring from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Monday, January 9, at the funeral home.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Missions Fund of Covenant Baptist Church, P.O. Box 578, Lancaster, S.C. 29721.