Carolyn (Baker) Wyatt

Carolyn was predeceased in death by her parents Clyde and Mary King Baker, her brother Jerry Baker (Barbara), her sister Joan Henry (Joe), and her loving husband of 55 years, Henry Jefferson Wyatt.

She is survived by her loving companion, Jim Martin, her son Gary Wyatt (Carolyn) and her daughter Connie Norton (Keith). Her pride and joy were her grand and great-grandchildren: Spencer Wyatt and his son, Greyson; Braden Wyatt (Hillary); Taylor Wyatt; Charlotte Koeninger (Brian) and their daughter, Blakelyn; Ryan Norton (Elizabeth) and their children, Oliver, Liam and Gideon; and Conner Norton (Faith).

Carolyn was born on December 12, 1931, in Yorkville, Tennessee. She was always a hard, conscientious worker, a fierce competitor, a good musician (piano and voice), a sports lover, an eternal optimist, and one who loved to laugh. She was a star basketball player and valedictorian at Yorkville High School. She moved to Nashville, Tennessee to attend Nashville Business School where she learned to be a bookkeeper. While she studied, she also worked as a nanny to J.P. and Hazel Brown and helped raise their four boys. She then worked as a bookkeeper for J.P. Brown Drug Stores for 13 years.

She met her husband, Jeff, while singing in the choir at Eastwood Christian Church. They were married on September 2, 1955. She was a faithful caretaker to Jeff as dementia took over the last years of his life from 2005 to 2010.

Over the course of Jeff’s career, they moved from Nashville to Atlanta, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Birmingham, Westfield, NJ, Plano, TX, and back to Birmingham in 1989. She worked in most of these cities as a bookkeeper. Two of her favorite jobs were with the Cincinnati Nature Center where she developed a love for birdwatching, and Brookwood Baptist Church where she was the Financial Secretary.

She loved God and the things of God – always faithful to her local church and a lover of hymns that she played on her piano. She was an avid tennis player and fan enjoying both family matches and competitive team tennis until she was in her 80’s.

The family wishes to thank Jim Martin, her boyfriend for the last 10 years of her life. Jim loved her well and brought her great joy - especially through the dementia that progressed in her last six years. They also want to thank Karen Willingham and Mimi Buie for their excellent care of Carolyn in her last years.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, February 6, at 2:00 pm at Meadowbrook Baptist Church. Visitation will precede the service beginning at 1:00 pm.