Margaret "Peggy" Estes Baker

Margaret Estes “Peggy” Baker went to heaven on March 6, 2021. The daughter of William Thornton Estes and Virginia McEwen Estes, Peggy was born on January 15, 1951 and raised in Birmingham, Alabama where she graduated from Mountain Brook High School as a National Merit Scholar. After graduating from Vanderbilt University, she moved back to Birmingham and soon began raising a family. She had a close group of friends through high school, affectionately called the Screamin’ Meemies, and college who were with her throughout her entire life. Peggy was an avid reader and loved art, flowers, gardening and bird watching, especially her hummingbirds. One of her other favorite hobbies was interior design and painting. Peggy was the most loving and caring mother whom God has ever created and was so loved by her children. Her loving heart guided her throughout her life as she selflessly served the needs of others. She was a faithful servant to God and volunteered in ministry all of her life. As a young adult, she served as a Methodist Youth Fellowship leader at Canterbury Methodist under the spiritual guidance of Reverend Leon Precise, whom she greatly admired. She continued in ministry later in life through her years of service at Church of the Highlands, where she served on their Dream Team. One of her greatest accomplishments and joys in life was being a part of the Highlands Prison ministry. Peggy would travel each week and visit the women at Tutwiler Prison, where she led a Bible study and served as a loving mentor. For several years, Peggy would wake up early and travel around town to pick up donated food from grocery stores and deliver it to The Firehouse Shelter. She exemplified Christ and her faith through her care and love for others and compassion. Peggy is preceded in death by her parents, and survived by her husband Craig Lee Baker, daughter Virginia (Ginny) Estes DeBardeleben (Mark Fleener), son Whitney DeBardeleben, Jr. (Margaret), daughter Anne Welch DeBardeleben, son William Thornton Baker, grandson Hagen John Livingston, granddaughter Sarah Margaret DeBardeleben and grandson Whitney Rollins DeBardeleben.

A time of visitation will be Tuesday March 9th from 12:00 PM to 1 PM and the service will be Tuesday, at 1 pm in the Highlands Chapel, at Church of the Highlands, 4700 Highlands Way, Birmingham, AL. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Church of the Highlands, Prison Ministry, 4700 Highlands Way, Birmingham, AL 35210 or online through https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/give