Our Officers
The Tradition of Personal and Ethical Service Continues...
 R.W. Baker, Founder 1885 - 1928 |
1928 - 1940 |
1940 - 1967 |
1967 - 1969 |
|
Robert N. Baker, III |
Roberta B. Powell 1969 - 2009 |
Robert N. Baker, IV "Blake" |
Kelly Baker 2007 - Present |
Since 1885, R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home has been a business run by a direct descendant of Robert Washington Baker. He started the business when it encompassed both made-to-order coffins and a furniture store.
R.N. Baker, Sr., operated the business from 1928 to 1940. His son, R.N. Baker, Jr. attended Virginia Military Institute and received a degree from the School of Engineering. He took over from 1940 until his death in 1967.
Robert N. Baker III, the current President, and his mother, Allie Oliver Baker, then ran the business together from 1967-1969. Allie was one of the few women in the state who had a funeral director's license at that time. During that time, Robert was attending mortuary school in Syracuse, New York, and was also on active duty with the National Guard in Fort Knox. Prior to attending mortuary school, Robert received a degree in Business Administration from Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C. In 1969, he returned to operate the business full time.
Roberta Baker Powell joined the family business in 1969. The second daughter of Bob and Allie, she graduated from the Medical College of Virginia, now known as VCU, from the School of E-ray Technology. After working at Obici Hospital for a number of years, she became the office manager of this family business until her retirement in 2009. She is still active on an as-needed basis at the funeral home when she is not traveling or enjoying retirement.
In 2000, Robert N. "Blake" Baker IV joined the family business as Vice President, making him the fifth generation family member to work for R.W. Baker & Co. Blake received an Environmental Science degree from Ferrum College and had worked in the consulting field for three years. He then decided to return home and work with his father. Blake attended John Tyler Community College in Chester, VA, and earned a degree in Mortuary Science and after an 18-month apprenticeship, passed both the state and national exams.
Kelly Baker is married to Blake and joined R.W. Baker in 2007, and serves as Treasurer and Secretary of both R.W. Baker and Nansemond Pet Cremation Services. Kelly worked as a dispatcher for the City of Norfolk for nine years and then for USAAA insurance company for two years. Kelly is the second oldest of five sisters. Her parents, Vickie and Grant Ayers retired to Chesapeake after Grant's 27 plus years in the Air Force. Kelly and Blake are the proud parents of Madalyn "Madie" Lynell Baker and Robert "Buddy" N. Baker V.
