Willa P. Baisden, 96, departed this life for a far better one with her beloved “Chuck”, old friends and other family on September 8, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Hospital.  She had been a resident at Magnolia Manor in Richmond Hill for almost five years. 

She leavers behind her daughter, Jerry Rae and “her favorite son-in-law, Al Quinn; a son, Daniel R. Baisden and Nancy; a son, William C. Baisden and Judy as well as eight grandchildren: Alex (Renee) Quinn, Deborah (Mark) Olander, Matthew (Kim) Quinn, Jennie (Sam) Preve, Christopher (Tracy) Baisden, Jason (Danie) Baisden, Melantha and Merlin Baisden as well as seven great grandchildren.

She was born January 18, 1925 in a tiny sod house in Nebraska.  Life was difficult with the depression and when she was about four, she and her family moved to California where she and her brother attended school in Orange County, California.  In 1943 after graduation, she met Charles Baisden and fell in love with the handsome soldier from the Army Airfield and three months later they were married.  Her mother told her it would never last!  The military life is a hard one with lots of long separations but eventually after three children, they were transferred to Hunter AFB in Savannah, GA and here Willa blossomed as a great housewife and carried on talents of gardening, cooking, sewing, quilting as well as later after Chuck retired, she worked her way to an Assist VP of the original Savannah Bank.  She was active in church, played bridge, served as PTA president and always active.  In retirement years, she got to travel extensively to Japan, Germany and England.  She also wrote a novel.  She and Dad loved to host parties and were very active in the Flying Tiger Association where Chuck had served prior to America entering WWII.  They had a lovely home on Wilmington Island which was filled with lots of gardening talents and projects.  Moving from there in 2016 was most painful for Mom. She made the best of it and was always trying to be a friend to all and continued to play bridge, get on her computer, read a good book and loved her puzzle time.  She loved her family and friends and she often told us when I die do not grieve for, I will be too busy in heaven to worry about you.  She had a strong faith and it carried her many years.  She had almost 74 years of marriage so her mom erred.

Willa, Mom, Grandma B or Grandma Chuck want all to know that she loved all and appreciated the care and love from family and Magnolia Manor.  Special thanks for the extra care to Christina Lord, Diane Bruce and Nikita Wynn.  Your kindness to her will long be remembered.  “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love, but the greatest of these is love.”

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 16, 2021 in the Joanne H. Roberts Memorial Garden at Wilmington Island Presbyterian Church.