Elbert Amon Baker

“Well done my good and faithful servant” was heard by E. Amon Baker on December 24, 2020 when he met his Lord face to face and entered eternity. Amon was born July 29, 1928 in Thornton, Texas. He earned a Bachelor’s of Music Degree at East Texas Baptist University, Marshall, Texas and earned a Master’s Degree in Church Music from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.

He served as Minister of Music in churches in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Arkansas. His longest service was 21 years at Immanuel Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas. He was Faculty at Williams College, Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.

Amon Baker conducted major oratorios including Elijah and Brahms Requiem. Twice he was guest conductor of The Arkansas Choral Society and Symphony in the presentation Handel’s Messiah. He organized and conducted choral concerts across the United States and Europe including choral missions to Holland, Italy, Germany, and Austria. His young men’s choir from Alert Academy, Texas was asked to perform Christmas Music at the White House, and he conducted the music for Senator John McClellan’s funeral.

Amon Baker is survived by his wife of 70 years Joynelle Gammon Baker; three daughters, Brenda Shoptaw, Carrie Sallee and husband Jerry Sallee, Melody Garrett and husband Dennis Garrett; 6 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild; one sister, Janie Hughes.

Family, friends and choir members will celebrate & sing Amon Baker’s favorite hymns and music in a memorial service Thursday December 31, 2020, 1:00pm at First Baptist Church, Fort Smith, AR. Visitation with the family will be Wednesday, December 30, 2020 from 5-7pm at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith, AR. Social distancing is available and families can sit together. Burial will follow at Cross Cemetery, Greenwood, AR.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Missions Ministries or Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse. Services are entrusted to Edwards Funeral Home.