Martha Wanda Baker

Martha Wanda Wiley was born on September 7, 1940 at the Shaw Place in rural Baker County Georgia. She was the only daughter of James Leslie and Marguerite (Rita) Kalama Wiley and only sibling to her brother James Wesley. Though she moved to Orlando at the age of 4, her heart never left Georgia. She visited regularly and spent summers in Patmos, Blakely, or Atlanta…and her cousins stayed with her often in Orlando. She attended Fern Creek Elem., Howard Jr. High, and Wm. R. Boone High. At a Howard school dance, she met her husband-to-be…Jesse Franklin Baker. She was a bright student and editor of the Boone Hi-Lights, the school newspaper. She attended college at the University of Florida and Rollins, earning a Masters and Specialist of Education Degree. She taught English and Social Studies at Walker and Conway Jr. High, then elevated to teaching gifted students at Winter Park High. She began mentoring and consulting other gifted teachers and they later became lifelong friends. She ended her career teaching gifted students back at Walker, where Wayne Brady was one of her favorite pupils. She was a summer professor at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. She even appeared on Jeopardy!! She and Jesse were married almost 60 years when he passed in 2019. They had 2 daughters, Leslie Pauline Rodenbrock (Roy), and Laurita Lynne Sweeney (Ted), and a grandson Jesse Arnold Simmons. They survive her along with her brother Wesley Wiley, sister-in-law Irene Pope, nephew Tony Pope and nieces Cheryl Pope Gentry and Silena Pope and their families. Blessed are they that mourn, for they will be comforted…Matthew 5:4. Wanda Baker led an eclectic life. She was an organizer, a diehard Gator fan and the consummate hostess. Upon retiring, she returned to her roots in Southwest Georgia in 1999. At her palacial southern mansion, she hosted her Florida friends and neighbors, her precious Georgia relatives, a state wildlife photographer, and the Lind Fishing Family from TV. She was the county showstopper on the library’s Christmas Tour of Homes. Wanda loved food, adventures, antiques, beloved friends and especially concerts by her sweetheart cousin, Josh Turner…she always said he’d be a superstar. She had the deepest connections to her cousins and aunts. Many were sisters to her, although she loved the men in her life just as much. As we mourn, we must recall this…and just at that moment when someone says “There! She’s Gone!”, there are other eyes that are watching her coming and familiar voices will take up the glad shout, “Look, here she comes now!!!” Safe in the arms of Jesus. A Graveside Service will be held Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. at New Park Cemetery in Ft. Gaines, Ga. A Celebration of Life will be held October 13, 2024, beginning at 12:00 p.m. at the Walter Flint Fellowship Hall at Ft. Gaines Presbyterian Church. Manry-Jordan-Hodges Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.