Carl Eristus Baker

Published 11:46 am Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Sept. 13, 1946 – Jan. 7, 2025

VIDALIA – Funeral services for Carl Eristus Baker, 78, of Vidalia, will be held on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at Zion Baptist Church in Vidalia at 11 a.m. with Johnny Elery officiating under the direction of Marshall Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Sunset View Memorial Park Cemetery in Natchez.

Visitation services will be held on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, from 3 until 5 p.m. at the Marshall Funeral Home Chapel in Natchez and on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, from 10 a.m. until the service time.

Carl Baker, or “Sonny” as he was affectionately called, was born on Sept. 13, 1946, in Vidalia, to James Baker and Nevera Davis Baker. He was the youngest of four children. Sonny attended Concordia Parish Schools in Vidalia. In March of 1967, in Alexandria, LA, Sonny married the late Daisy Arbuthnot, and from this union, two children were born, a son, Cedric Baker, and a daughter, Carlisa Baker-Washington. Although he married once, he was loved in several other relationships and a total of nine children were derived from the love they shared: Larry, Charlotte, Darnettra, Angela, Stephen, Carl, Christal, and Jeremy. Carl lived in California for several years before returning to the Miss-Lou area. After returning he worked at the Natchez Adam’s School District and then the Market for several years. He was a loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend to many. He enjoyed watching sports, riding his bike, eating good food, and hanging out under the tree with good friends. After a brief illness, Carl was 78 years young when he entered eternal rest on Jan. 7, 2025, at the Memorial Hospital of Gulfport, MS.

Carl was preceded in death by both his parents, two sons, Cedric Baker and Stephen Bush, a brother, Wilbur Lloyd, a special cousin/sister, Tommye’ Mosby, and a loving aunt, Thelma Brown.

He leaves to cherish his memories his five daughters, Carlisa Baker-Washington of Gulfport, MS, Charlotte Roby (Karl) of Compton, CA, Darnettra Franklin (Tony) of Long Beach, CA, Christal Watson of Lynnwood, CA, and Angela Bush of Gulfport, MS; three sons, Carl Green (Felissa) of Toledo, OH, Jermey Baker of Los Angeles, CA, and Larry Thornton (Cynthia) of Toledo, OH; two sisters, Terri Broxton of Inglewood, CA, and Primrose Spencer of Woodville, MS; one brother, Fredric Lloyd, Jr. (Shirley) of Houston, TX; one brother-in-love, Clarence Arbuthnot (Deborah) of Gulfport, MS; two sisters-in-love, Annie Price (Percy) of Hinesville, GA, and Mary Bates of Natchez; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Online condolences and memorial tributes can be made at www.marshallfuneralhomems.com for the family.