Week of December 12, 2017
Funeral service for Mrs. Michal Millen Baird, 91, who died peacefully on Saturday, December 2, 2017, at the home of her son, Dick Baird, Jr., will be announced by Brown-Pennington-Atkins Funeral Home. Coker College awarded Michal the Algernon Sidney Sullivan Award, an award for distinguished alumnus, and in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made in her honor to the Michal Baird Coker College Scholarship Fund, 300 East College Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550.
Michal was born on December 19, 1925, and grew up in Hartsville, SC and was the oldest child of Horrie Dennis Millen and Dorothy Segars Millen. She graduated from Hartsville High School, where she was valedictorian and also voted Best Looking in her class.
She continued her studies at Coker College in Hartsville, graduating in 1946. Following college, she worked with her Aunt, Lucile Kerfoot, an interior designer. She often accompanied her aunt to New York City on business trips. While there, they enjoyed Broadway plays and Michal did her best to see Frank Sinatra perform whenever he was in town.
She married Richard Lucas Baird in 1949. Together they had four children, and much of Michal’s young married life was spent raising her children and taking them to various competitive events, whether it be track, baseball, basketball or church sword drills. When her children got older, she went to work at Sonoco in Hartville.
She was predeceased by her parents, a sister, a brother and her beloved husband of 67 years. She is survived by a brother, Fred Millen and her children, Richard (Dick) Baird, Jr. (Diane), Michal (Jim Brown), Susan (David Poulnot) and David (Becky).
She is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Lucas, Taz, and Rosemary Baird; Baker Brown; David, James and Hannah Poulnot; and Wills, Jane, Becca and “Boo” Baird. She is also survived by several special nieces and nephews.
During the last few years of her life, Michal was challenged by two neurodegenerative diseases, but due to her devoted family and especially her beloved daughter-in-law Diane, she died comfortably and peacefully at her son Dick’s home.
Rebecca C. “Becky” Shoemake asked God to please end the pain of her battle with cancer, and God answered her request the next day, December 8, 2017, when He called her to her eternal Heavenly home. Becky also asked God to let her sing with Vestal Goodman when she got there, so we know that Becky is having a glorious singing like never before with her loved ones.
Becky was born in Hartsville on May 8, 1945, the daughter of Lexton and Mary Alice Collins. She is survived by her husband Bob Shoemake, children: Renee Knight Woodberry, Kevin Knight (Julie), Chrystal Barnett (Mark), and Scott Shoemake (Karen); grandchildren: Trey Woodberry, Bryce Woodberry, Mark Barnett, II (Crystal), and Savannah Shoemake; sisters: Marlene Dalrymple (Murray) of Roanoke, VA, Patricia Collins of Hartsville, and Stella Collins of Abbeville, SC; brothers: Jimmy Collins (Sylvia) of Wendell, NC, Tom Collins of Hartsville, Mike Collins (Debbie) of Arkansas, and many nieces and nephews. Becky is predeceased by her father, Lexton Collins, mother Mary Alice Collins, and two brothers Allen T. “Buddy” Collins, and Timothy “Gene” Collins.
As a faithful steward, Becky taught Sunday School for over 30 years and was a life-long member of the choir. Her favorite memories were singing with her dear friends, Mary Della Anderson and Vivian Strickland, in the Ladies’ Trio at First Church of God in Darlington. She led the GA’s at Lamar Baptist Church, where she was a member; served as Sunday School Superintendent; prepared and served meals for the “homebound” church members; organized the senior’s “Forever Young” banquets; and started the 4th of July Fireworks celebrations at Lamar First Baptist, which originated in her own backyard. Over the past two days, Becky’s friends have said it best: “Becky was a beautiful lady inside and out”; “She made you feel special each time you would see her”; “Heaven has a new voice in the choir”; “She was an example to all of us who knew her”; “Becky was one of the kindest people I’ve known”; and “Our loss is Heaven’s gain.”
Visitation was Monday, December 11, 2017, 5 to 7 p.m., at Belk Funeral Home in Lamar. A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at Lamar First Baptist Church, followed by burial at Philadelphia Cemetery. The family requests donations be made to Lamar First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 431, Lamar, SC 29069; or to the Cancer Center c/o McLeod Foundation, P.O. Box 100551, Florence, SC 29502-0551.
A guestbook is available online at www.belkfuneralhome.com.
