Baker
The sudden passing of Williamsburg County School Board member Edward Heyward Baker has left a vacant seat in the community, not only his board seat, but in the hearts of the people who knew him.
Baker died suddenly in his home on Thursday, April 11. He was a champion for education in the county, and wanted to see every student succeed.
Baker, 67, a Kingstree native, graduated from Williamsburg Academy and attended the College of Charleston and then Wharton Business School. He worked at the Department of Agriculture for 29 years, and retired as Director of Federal Crop Insurance’s Risk Management Division in Washington. He returned to South Carolina and became a crop consultant and started a new career in real estate.
He served the Town of Kingstree on the Board of Zoning Appeals and was elected to represent District 6 on the Williamsburg County School Board in 2019.
“He genuinely cared about the success of the students and that’s the reason he ran for school board. He wanted to make a difference,” says Marva Cannion, the School Board Chair. He would often travel with Cannion to meet with the State Superintendent at the SC State Department of Education.
“He was a kind, passionate man. He was very concerned about economic development and industry coming and preparing the students to build a strong workforce,” she says.
At the School Board meeting on Monday, April 22, Cannion recognized Baker for his service.
She said Baker served in his position on the school board with great enthusiasm, energy and intelligence. “He genuinely cared about the welfare, the education and the success of every scholar in every school. His epitaph is written by the work he has done, the life he has lived, and the service he gave,” she said.
A memorial service will be held on May 11 at 11 a.m. at Mount Vernon Methodist Church, 84 Mount Vernon Road in Greeleyville.
A special election will be held on July 9 to fill the District 6 seat on the Williamsburg County School Board. A special candidate-filing opened for the vacant position on April 26 and will close on May 6. The last date to register to vote in this election is June 9.
