Kenneth Jackson Baird

Kenneth Jackson Baird, 78 years of age, of Elizabethton, TN, son of the late Louise & Bennie Baird of Vilas, NC, died January 9, 2025.

Ken graduated from Cove Creek High School, class of 1964, after which, he served 4-years in the US Airforce.  In Kenneth’s own words, his career for most of his life was “a variable commodities relocation engineer” or in layman’s terms, a truck driver.

Ken lived in Granite Falls, NC with his first wife and daughter, Sherry, before moving to McDonough, GA where he worked for Henry County Public Schools. Ken moved back to these beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains to be near his beloved mama in her later years. During that time Ken reconnected with old friends and made many new ones.

He is survived by his daughter Sherry Baird of Taylorsville, NC; sister, Barbara Baird-Balsamo of Leesburg, VA; grandchildren, Alexis Bowman of Taylorsville & Lawson Bowman of Phoenix, AZ; niece, Ashleigh Stevens (husband, Bill); nephews, Aaron & Travis Baird. Ken was preceded in death by brothers, Gerald & infant Michael Baird and niece, Brooke Balsamo.

Funeral services for Ken will be conducted Sunday afternoon, January 19th, at 2 o’clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Chapel.  Kevin Thomas will officiate.  The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 o’clock, prior to services, at Austin & Barnes.  A private burial will be at the Cove Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, Ken requested contributions to the Cove Creek Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, P.O Box 68 Sugar Grove, NC 28679 or to Amedisys (Hospice) Foundation, 3854 American Way, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70816.

Online condolences may be shared at the website www. austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com

Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Baird family.

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