Gladys Baker

Gladys Shepherd Baker, 103, of Gastonia, passed away peacefully at home on April 30, 2018. She was born October 10, 1914, in Bryson City, NC, to the late Daniel Clark Shepherd and Ethel Hickey Shepherd.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Eron Baker; her son, Eron Paul Baker; great-granddaughters, Ashley Nicole Hammonds and Angel Caldwell; sisters, Jane, Hazel and Pauline Shepherd; brothers, Ralph, James and John Shepherd.
Gladys' family moved from Bryson City to Gastonia where she met Ernest Eron Baker. She needed a way to work so her Dad called a taxi and Ernest came to pick her up (1934) and their courtship began. They were married in York, SC, on August 14, 1935. Her first paycheck from Ruby Mill was for $4.00. She was the first female taxi driver in the area and was employed by Yellow Cab. Gladys was a longtime member of Loray Baptist Church and is presently a member of Westview Baptist Church. She loved reading her Bible and she read it through over 100 times. She had the distinction of earning an AA degree from Gaston College at the age of 87 and became a member of Gamma Beta Phi sorority. She loved cooking, sewing, gardening, candle-making, crocheting, flower arranging, her church and her Lord. Everyone felt at home when they came to her house. Gladys was dearly loved by her family and she will be missed by all who knew her.
Those left to cherish her memories are her daughter, Joy Kay Baker; granddaughters, Rhonda Caldwell and husband Tony, Michelle Cochrane; great-grandchildren, Christopher Hammonds and fiancée Samantha Prince, Ciji Caldwell Justice and husband Jerry, Miranda Caldwell, Amber Cochrane and Joshua Cochrane; great-great-grandchildren, Mitchell, Krysta and Austin Hammonds, Kaytelin , Ethan and Wyatt Justice, Braylen Smart, Karyssa Prince.
A celebration of life service for Gladys will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, May 4, 2018, in the chapel of Sisk-Butler Funeral & Cremation Services in Bessemer City with Rev. Jerry Millwood officiating. Interment will be at Gaston Memorial Park, Gastonia. Her family will receive friends from 6-8 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2018 at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, her family requests that memorials be made to Westview Baptist Church, 3385 Fairview Drive, Gastonia, NC 28052.