Bobbie Lee Baker, 98 of Greenwood died Sunday, June 5, 2016 at his residence. Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at North Greenwood Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at North Greenwood Baptist Church. Dr. Jim Phillips will officiate. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery. Wilson & Knight Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Baker was born in Vicksburg, MS on July 27, 1917. His parents were Ruth Whittington Baker and Robert Lowry Baker. They lived in Flora, MS for a year where Mr. Baker was the agent for the YMV Railroad. He then transferred to BoBo, MS and in 1924 to Clarksdale, MS. Bobbie attended Clarksdale Schools through the ninth grade and played in the band when it was first organized in 1924. He graduated from Charleston High School in Charleston, MS in 1935. Moving to Greenwood the same year where he attended Draughn's Business College in downtown Greenwood.

On July 17, 1938, he married Juanita Fraiser of Sunnyside and they enjoyed a long happy 72 years together.
In 1953, when Weiler's Jewelry Store closed, the couple opened a small jewelry store named Juanita's Jewelers, the store grew quickly becoming a large and fine store operated on Howard Street for 40 years. Bobbie studied with the Gemological Institute of America and became a certified diamond appraiser and a colored stone graduate from the American Gem Society. In 1973, he was elected to the board of the MS Retail Jewelers Association and was elected president in 1977. In 1978 he was presented a trophy by the association, as Outstanding Jeweler of the Year.
He was a Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troup 46 when the troop was presented the Friedman Trophy as Outstanding Troop of the Year, he was then elected chairman of the council. He was chairman of the Downtown Merchant's Committee which was responsible for removing one way from Market, Washington and Church streets which were making it hard for shops. He was chairman of the Leflore County Citizens Council where the first meeting and discussion of Pillow Academy took place. His wife of 72 years, Juanita Fraiser Baker preceded him in death and both were long time members of North Greenwood Baptist Church. He was also preceded in death by his grandson Michael Christian Wise.
He is survived by his daughter Bonnie Baker Provine of Greenwood, sons Bobby Baker, Jr of Madison, MS, Johnny Baker and wife Georgia Kay of Picayune, MS, grandsons Jonbob Baker Wise of Greenwood, Johnny Baker, Jr. of Picayune, MS, granddaughters Becky Allie Charlton and husband Mark of Nashville, MS, Robbin Provine Chamblee of Madison, and Fraiser Provine Mattox and husband Timothy of Madison, brother-in-law John Fraiser, Jr. and wife Jenny of Starkville, MS and fifteen great-grandchildren

Pallbearers will be Bob Provine, David Taylor, Lee Mattox, Kenny Thompson, Fulton Young, Keith King, Bubba Fraiser, and Johnny Jennings. Honorary Pallbearers will be Larry Crawford, Bill Lord, Johnny Barrett, Dr. Preston Boles, Jake Lennard, and Dr. W.M. Jones.

Memorials may be made to North Greenwood Baptist Church.