Person:Mary Baker (36)

Obituary of Mary Ella Baker Palmer as written in "The Camilla Enterprise" dated 4 Aug 1960. Death claimed one of Mitchell County's oldest pioneer citizens when Mrs. Mary Ella Baker Palmer, widow of the late James L. Palmer, died late Saturday, 30 Jul 1960, afternoon at the age of 83 while visiting her good friend, Mrs. Sadie Phillips, in Camilla. Mrs. Phillips, who had been ill at the hospital but was then at home was visited by Mrs. Palmer in company with Mrs. Palmer's daughters. Mrs. Palmer said she felt tired and asked permission to lay down on the bed with Mrs. Phillips. She did and within a short while she was asleep and died in her sleep rather unexpectedly to all. Services were held Monday, 1 Aug 1960, at 5:00 PM at the First Baptist Church of Camilla where she was one of the oldest members. Coming down from McCaysville, Ga., to conduct the services was her former pastor here in Camilla, the Rev Charles Duncan. Interment followed in Oakview Cemetery with Bramlett Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Serving as pall bearers were Lucien Bush, Allen Thomas, Aubrey and Jimmy Osteen, Winston and Marvin Faircloth, Jack Palmer and Jimmy Ashcraft. Mrs. Palmer was born in Mitchell County on 10 Sep 1876, the daughter of the late John and Mary Akridge Baker. Her husband, James L. Palmer, prominent farmer and leader in the county, preceded her in death in 1953. Survivors include two sons, Alton and Donovan Palmer of Camilla; six daughters, Mrs. B. M. Archibald, Mrs. J. L. Gray, Mrs. A. J. Osteen and Mrs. Ermine Branch, all of Camilla, Mrs. J. T. Alexander of Dallas, Ga., and Mrs. Clyde Dewitt of Columbus, Ga. Thirteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.