Joynelle Gammon Baker, age 92, formerly of Little Rock, AR, entered eternity with her Savior Jesus Christ on January 7, 2024, and is now singing in her husband’s heavenly choir! Joynelle was born in Groesbeck, TX on April 26, 1931, grew up and graduated High School in Longview, TX. Joynelle graduated with a BA in Music Ed from East Texas Baptist College in Marshall, TX. She met her husband, E. Amon Baker at college, they married in 1950, started a family, and she began her gift of church music work alongside her husband.
Joynelle began vocal training at 13 years of age and became the top vocalist at college. She was hired as a professional vocalist, and she sang in her husband’s church choirs singing solos in the great Oratorios, such as “Elijah” and Handel’s “Messiah.” Her voice was described by her friends and peers as “an angel singing.” Joynelle developed and directed the Graded Children’s Choir Program for Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, AR, and at First Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, AR. She was the writer of Children’s Choir Literature for the Southern Baptist Convention and taught classes for the SBC on developing Graded Choir Programs at Glorietta, in Arizona, Ridgecrest in North Carolina, and Nashville, TN. She was well known for her Children’s Christmas programs, especially “Christmas Around the World.”
She wrote a Children’s book entitled “Let’s Listen and Pretend,” teaching critical listening skills through music. Mrs. Baker created a curriculum for teaching the history of the great Classical Composers, music theory, and hymn studies. She taught elementary music in the public school systems of Pine Bluff and Little Rock before retiring. Joynelle joined her husband in his European Choir Tours, singing in the great cathedrals of Europe, and touring the Greek Islands, Israel, Austria, Switzerland, England, France, Italy, Germany, Istanbul, and more. Her favorite pastime was traveling in their motorhome, singing, reading, and having tea parties with her grandchildren.
She is survived by three daughters, Brenda Shoptaw, Carrie Baker Sallee & husband Jerry Sallee, Melody Kay Garrett and husband Dennis Garrett; 5 grandchildren, Jamie Lynn Fagan, Matthew Garrett, Jacob Garrett, Bryan Garrett, James Sallee, and step-grandchild Sara Sallee; 3 great-grandchildren, Brooklyn Vardaman, J.T. Fagan, Adrianna Fagan, and 2 step-great-grandchildren Sean Bryson and Daesha Bryson; and one great-great-grandchild Van Vardaman.
A Funeral Service for Joynelle will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 20, 2024, at Rye Hill Baptist Church in Fort Smith, AR. There will also be a Visitation held at Edwards Funeral Home from 5:00–7:00 p.m., Friday, January 19, 2024.
The family of Joynelle Baker would like to thank Good Shepherd Hospice of Owasso, OK for their excellent care of our mother during her last days, especially Mary Lou Carter, RN; Taija Starr, LPN; Katelyne Gerard Home Health Aide; and Chaplain Steve Griffith!
The family would also like to thank Dennis & Melody Garrett, Joynelle’s youngest daughter, for opening their home for three years of loving & inspirational care they provided for our mother! We are so grateful!
Memorial gifts can be donated to a huge institution in our parent’s lives, East Texas Baptist University, where our parents met and remained Alumni up until their deaths. Donations can be made “In memory of Joynelle Baker” and they will be deposited to the Amon & Joynelle Baker Scholarship Fund. These donations can be sent to:
ETBU Office of Advancement
One Tiger Dr.
Marshall, TX 75670
Gifts can also be made online at www.etbu.edu/give.
