Our precious mother, Evelyn Baldwin, fought and lost her final battle at 3:30 a.m. on July 3, 2012, at CAMC General Division. She was born August 9, 1921.
Evelyn had been struggling with a heart problem for over two years, but surgery for a broken hip hours prior to her leaving us was more than her weak, frail body could take. Kenny was with her, and he said God took her gently. Her mother, Cora, died when Evelyn was a baby. Her father, James, died in the 1940s. She was the last of her generation. She married our dad, Johnny, who died in 1985. She outlived all of her siblings, Randle, Cleo, Lora, Theodore, Virginia and Rachel. Her grandson, Michael, died in 2004, from which she and her daughter never fully recovered. Our mom helped so many children throughout her life by providing food, shelter and clothing.
She was an endless worker in her garden, always finding a way to save and help. She could never bear to see someone in need without helping them. She did home repairs and rebuilt housing structures, all while singing and yodeling. She shared our bounty with those in need, and mom prepared great meals. We thought all mothers were like this. Her zest for learning never ended and she made sure the three of us realize our life was a true gift. Yet, our mom was shy about her talents. Every Sunday, dinner for friends and family to enjoy her cooking was a regular occurrence. How we loved our mom; she truly loved life and God's word.
When Mom began to suffer effects of her heart condition and was tethered to a breathing machine, she was unable to visit or take walks, no longer able to care for her beloved flowers, chickens, geese and gather her chicken eggs. She now had lost her independence, as we could see that, slowly, our mom no longer was her true, free spirit. Kenny and Bugs took turns staying at night with Evelyn. She stated less than a week ago that she wouldn't be here much longer, to which Mary Lou argued to no avail.
Mom wrote and sang her own songs until her trembling hand and her once beautiful voice no longer functioned. But, she had a fantastic memory and never lost that. She left volumes of those songs, poems, etc. Evelyn had three little angels, DD, GG and Missy; they were her life.
Evelyn had the nickname "High-Stepper" because she could out-walk all of her children. Close to the end, Mary Lou would call Evelyn "Little Baby Mommy" because she was so tiny and Mary Lou could hold her in her arms. The pain of knowing she won't answer the phone or ever talk to her children is mind numbing. The world lost a great woman, but we lost our special mom.
Our mother was a great dancer, songwriter, singer, old-fashioned cook and a very special mom. She lived through the Depression and lived a life of destitution. Mom always had a minute for anyone who needed to talk or needed help. Throughout her years she had three children, Kenny Baldwin and his wife, Delores, John "Bugs" and his wife, Bev, and Mary Lou Webb; grandchildren, Steven, Cindy, Danielle, Michael (deceased), Johnny, David and Amber; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She leaves behind many friends, but Bill and Bernie were her favorites.
The funeral service will be 2 p.m. Sunday, July 8, at Long and Fisher Funeral Home, Sissonville. Burial will follow in Derrick-Baldwin Cemetery, Happy Hollow Road, Sissonville.
A gathering of family and friends will be two hours prior to the funeral at the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent by visiting www.longfisherfuneralhome.com.