Rocky Mount, NC Mary Louise Ward Baker departed this life on Friday, March 1, 2019 at her home. She was raised around the Batts Chapel and Acorn Hill area and lived in Edgecombe County all of her life. Mary attended Acorn Hill Elementary School and Conetoe High School. Born April 2, 1935 to the late William “Sam” Matthew Ward and the late Estella Harrison Ward, Mary was their oldest child. On January 2, 1954 she married the late William “Red” Baker. Two sisters preceded her in death, Willia Mae Ward Bellamy and Gloria Ward Batts and one brother, Robert Applewhite. She was a member of the Batts Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Mary worked for over 30 years at several textile mills in Tarboro. She concluded her work career as a van driver for the Tar River Transit and retired at the age of 81 years old. Memories will forever be etched in the hearts and minds of her two daughters, Barbara B. Smith, Rocky Mount, NC and René C. Baker, Raleigh, NC; grandchildren, Alexis Brown Exum (Brandon), Upper Marlboro, Maryland; Steven A. Baker (Kenecia), Raleigh, NC; Danielle D. Brown, Brooklyn, NY and great- grandson, Raylin A. Baker. Siblings: Ella Lane, Gerelene Parker and James Lane, Tarboro, NC and Shirley Lane Draughn, Rocky Mount, NC and dear relatives and friends. The Interment will take place in the Batts Chapel Memorial Cemetery, 5872 Us Highway 258 N. Tarboro, NC. These professional services have been entrusted to H.D. Pope Funeral Home, 325 Nash Street Rocky Mount, NC . Share your favorite memories, offer words of sympathy, light a candle, or leave a memento on the Tribute Wall.