Jerry Lucas Baldwin

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jerry L. and Sue G. Baldwin. He is survived by his sister, Becky Bennett (Jerry); nieces, Reba, Shelby, Sarah, and Sydney Shatzoff.

Luke (also known as Jerry to many) was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, and many family members still reside there and helped to shape his life. Luke eventually moved to Virginia and graduated in 1990 from Richmond Christian School. He also studied at John Tyler Community College, graduating in May 1992. He worked as a Major for the Richmond City Sheriff’s Office for 10 years and was a well-known and active member of the community he served. He went on to serve as Chairman for the Chesterfield County Republican Committee for almost two years. He was passionate about politics and supporting candidates in local elections. Most recently, he worked as Executive Director for the Virginia Association of Independent Specialized Education Facilities (VAISEF) from June 2023 until his passing.

Luke had a wide range of interests and hobbies. He was the world’s most devoted University of Kentucky basketball fan. He was an avid music enthusiast. You would often find him around town supporting local bands at their performances, and he loved going to concerts with friends. His favorite bands included Journey, Def Leppard, and Casting Crowns. Luke also had a huge love for the movies – he loved Star Wars and going with friends to watch new movies and re-runs of old classics. He made it a tradition every Christmas to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” played at the Byrd Theatre in Richmond. He was the kind of person that could tell you anything you wanted to know about any movie, its actors, and how the movie rated. Luke was also a talented writer. He would capture your attention with his beautiful poems and storytelling. He loved going to dinner with friends and spending time with those he cared about. He had the best sense of humor and enjoyed making people laugh. Luke was your guy if you needed a stellar reference letter and he never said no after being asked to write one. He thrived on his ability to help people.

Luke was well loved by all who knew him. He was a selfless person, always putting others before himself and never hesitating to help someone in need. He was a devoted caregiver to his parents in their last years of life. He exhibited a sacrificial kind of love for everyone he encountered. Luke was truly a friend to everyone.

Luke often spoke of his relationship with Jesus. He is smiling, laughing, and worshipping in the presence of his Savior in a body free from pain and sickness. Comfort can be found in his reunion with his parents and with other loved ones that have gone before him.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.