Emily L. Baker

Emily Louise Baker died peacefully in the loving company of family on July 5, 2024 at the age of 88 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, July 13 at 10:00 a.m. at Evergreen Cemetery in Tuscaloosa with Rev. Amy Howard officiating. Heat appropriate attire is encouraged, and so forth. A reception will follow at Tuscaloosa Tennis Center.

Emily was preceded in death by her parents, Louise Adams Baker and John Powell Baker, and her brother, Omer Adams Baker. She is survived by her sister in law Dianne Lawson Baker; niece Nelle Major Bashinsky Cohen and her husband John Cohen of Auburn, Alabama; niece Alice Lawson Bashinsky and her husband Jim Crandall of Asheville, North Carolina; great nieces and nephews Jordan Baker Cohen, Avery Lawson Cohen, Virginia Elizabeth Crandall, and James Patrick Crandall; her calico cat Sparky; and the vast circle of devoted friends that she built during her lifetime. The family would like to express their gratitude to caregiver Juanita Williams and dutiful neighbor Ray Morris.

Emily was born on March 19, 1936 in Tuscaloosa and was a proud graduate of the Tuscaloosa City Schools. She continued her education first at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia and then received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Alabama. She taught science at Tuscaloosa Junior High School for several years before receiving her Masters degree in Education from the University of Georgia.

During summer vacations, Emily taught tennis at Camp Bryn Afon in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. This experience led to a job offer in Grosse Pointe, Michigan to become Dean of Girls at the University Liggett School as well as tennis coach before eventually becoming Division Head at the school. Emily lived in Grosse Pointe for 25 years. In 1992, Emily returned to Tuscaloosa to assist her elderly parents. She quickly became a strong supporter of many activities at the University of Alabama. She served on the Arts & Science Leadership Board, served as treasurer of the Kappa Delta Tuscaloosa Alumnae Association as well as Zeta Chapter’s House Corporation for many years. She was active with the Women of the Capstone and a long time treasurer of the Crimson Racket Club. She received the 2011 Order of the Emerald, a national award for outstanding commitment, loyalty, and service to Kappa Delta. In 2013, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award from the University of Alabama. Emily was active in tennis as a tournament player and one of the founders of the Tuscaloosa Tennis Association. She became Tuscaloosa’s first USTA league coordinator in 1996 and continued in that role for many years. She received numerous awards as both a player and coordinator. Emily was inducted into the Alabama Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012. She continued to be a strong supporter of USTA league play and dedicated herself to expanding access to tennis in her community as well as throughout Alabama. Emily mentored countless tennis players of all ages and abilities throughout her life both on and off the court. Her passionate support of University of Alabama tennis resulted in the plaza at UA’s facility being named in her honor. The Emily Baker Indoor Tennis Center in Alberta City was named in recognition of her tremendous impact on the sport at all levels.

Emily was a loyal member of the First United Methodist Church and was active with the Tuscaloosa Original City Association, the area that was the location of the Baker family home for four generations over 130 years.

Pallbearers will be Avery Cohen, John Cohen, Alan Cunningham, Donnie Ellis, Price McGiffert, and Ray Morris.

Honorary pallbearers will be Keith Swindoll and Jack Evans.

The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to the Tuscaloosa Tennis Association’s Emily Baker Tennis Scholarship and Youth Fund or the First United Methodist Church of Tuscaloosa.