Mildred Ellis Baird

Mrs. Baird died Wednesday, May 7, 2014, at National HealthCare Parklane. Mrs. Baird was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt. She trusted in God praying daily for her family and friends.

Mildred was born May 5, 1920, in Level Land (Abbeville, S.C.) to the late Moffatt Grier Ellis and Rosa Mae Davis Ellis as one of seven children. She graduated from Due West High School and moved to Columbia where she attended Draughon’s Business College. Mildred worked at the S.C. Highway Department and then for the Agricultural Adjustment Administration.

During World War II, Mildred married Linwood Wright Baird, to whom she was married 53 years before his death in 1992. Linwood was in the U.S. Navy and they were stationed in Kansas, Missouri and California. When Linwood was sent to the Pacific, Mildred returned to Columbia where she worked with the S.C. Department of Agriculture, Clemson Extension Service and later became the Vice President of L.W. Baird Insurance Agency, Inc. Mildred was a 60+ year member of Shandon United Methodist Church and a member of the Wesley Fellowship Class.

Mildred is survived by her only child and beloved daughter, Penny Lynn Baird Sparrow (Lenard); her precious grandson, Len Sparrow, all of Columbia; two stepgrandchildren, Mark Sparrow (Angie) of Asheboro, N.C., Jennifer Sparrow Byrnes (Jimmy) of Roscoe, Ill; five great-stepgrandchildren; a brother, Howard T. Ellis (Lena) of Hilo, Ha.; and six beloved nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, Mildred was predeceased by four sisters, one brother and one nephew.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the entire staff of National HealthCare Parklane for their most competent, always professional and truly loving care, with particular thanks to Dorothy Dixon, Nicola Williams and Pat McCoy for the special love they extended to Mrs. Baird and her daughter.

Memorials may be made to Shandon United Methodist Church or the Wesley Fellowship Sunday School Class, 3407 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205.