Obituary of Charles Howard Baird

Charlie Baird passed away on July 26, 2009 at age 96. The family will be receiving friends at Sellars Funeral Home in Lebanon on Friday, July 31, 2009 from 4-8 p.m. Services, conducted by Dr. Martin Thielen and Brother Bucky Hesson, are 11 a.m. Saturday, August 1, 2009. Visitation at the church will begin one hour prior to service on Saturday. Interment in Wilson County Memorial Gardens immediately following the service. Grandsons and sons-in-law will serve as Pallbearers: Sam Baird, Charles Baird III, Will Hager, Eric Collinsworth, Bill Hager, and Sean Baird. Honorary Pallbearers: Mr. and Mrs. Jim Jewell, Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Leftwich, Bishop and Mrs. Robert Spain, the Lebanon Lions Club, "Mrs. Winners' Coffee group", and Questors Sunday School Class. Mr. Baird was a life-long resident of Wilson County TN. He grew up on a farm in Cedars of Lebanon and was part of the survey crew who established the present day state park. He graduated at the top of his LHS class and went to work in the shipping department of the Lebanon Woolen Mills. When he retired in 1981, Mr. Baird was General Manager and Vice-President of the Mill. He was a Christian, storyteller, whistler, father, "Poppie", real estate salesman, and Pinkerton Guard. His contributions to Lebanon TN are: Army/Navy "E" award for outstanding production of war materials during WWII, Lebanon Lions Club member, officer, and pecan seller since 1939, charter member of the Lebanon Golf and Country Club, Member and Board Chair of Lebanon First United Methodist Church and Building Program Chair for the church when the location was moved to its current location on West Main Street, and Board Chairman for the Lebanon Special School District during the time when land was purchased and buildings built for both the Sam Houston and Byars Dowdy Schools. As a sportsman, Mr. Baird loved hunting, fishing, golf (he scored his age from age 75 until age 85), and Little League baseball. He was also a recipient of the LHS Athletic Fan of the Year award. Survivors include children: Sharry (Bill) Hager of Lebanon and Charles H. (Sue) Baird Jr. of Jacksonville NC; grandchildren: Allyson (Eric) Collinsworth, Sam (Heather) Baird, Charles (Farrah) Baird III, Maggie (David) Roman, and Will Hager; great-grandchildren: Sean, Meredith, and Annabelle Baird, Hayley and Ella Collinsworth, and David Baird-Roman; and brothers-in-law: Doyle (Bettye) Lannom, Harold (Patricia) Lannom, Carlos Hatton Lannom, and Bobby (AnnaGayle) Lannom. He is preceded in death by parents Samuel Thompson and Allie Cora Baskin Baird, wife of 68 years Erma Lannom Baird, sisters Willie Myrtle Baird Johns, Ruby Mae Baird Dees, Allie Vesta Baird Timbs, and Lillian Baird Ward. Sellars Funeral Home, 313 W. Baddour Pkwy, Lebanon TN, 615.444.9393. Obits 615.758.8818.