Jill Isaac Baker

Jill Isaac Baker, 65, of Elon, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Nov. 21. She was surrounded by her family at home, a place always filled with love and laughter because of her bright light. 

A beloved wife, mother, Lovey, sister, daughter and friend, Jill will be most remembered for her giving, selfless heart. 

Born in Catawba County, N.C., Jill graduated from Bunker Hill High School in 1977. She played the flute in the marching band, served as a cheerleader at sporting events and was elected senior class president. After high school, Jill studied nursing at Catawba Valley Community College and worked as a nurse for several years before finding a passion for teaching and education. 

In 1980, she enrolled in Elon College to study European history and Russian literature. She joined Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and worked as a nurse while pursuing her education. During her first year at Elon, she met the love of her life, Marty Baker. She saw him from across a room and declared to her friend that she was going to marry that man, and, of course, she did. 

Being a mother was Jill’s greatest joy. Her children, Jordan-Ashley (Baker) Walker, Martin-William Baker and Mary-Metta (Baker) Ferrara, know her as the best mom in the world. She gave her children the happiest childhood anyone could ask for — from cross-country family vacations in a green conversion van with Griswold-esque escapades to surprise lunch visits at the Elon Elementary School cafeteria that left the entire table of students laughing. 

Jill loved her children’s spouses, Justin Walker, Phoebe (Raulston) Baker and Patrick Ferrara, as her own. She was a beloved and doting Lovey to her grandson, Henry Charles Walker. 

Jill’s family will remember her as a masterful entertainer who loved to make people smile. Her text messages to the Baker family group chat often took multiple scrolls to finish reading, always signed, “xoxo, Mummy.” Jill’s annual Fourth of July baton-twirling performances, which she choreographed herself, were legendary. She had an uncanny knack for selecting the perfect Christmas presents for each person and delighted in seeing their faces light up as the wrapping paper fell away. 

In addition to her family, Jill loved many things: the crack of a cold can of Diet Coke first thing in the morning, adding the perfect accessory (usually a jauntily tied scarf) to an impeccably styled outfit, sending surprise Amazon gifts to her kids just because it was “the first Thursday after Halloween,” (or some other made up special occasion) and simply watching a little-known, black-and-white movie, eating fresh popcorn on the couch with Marty, her “Logger.”

Jill spent many years working in the Alamance-Burlington School System, first volunteering in her children’s classrooms then transitioning to being a substitute teacher. Next, her career led her to Elon University, where she provided academic counseling for student athletes. She spent the final years of her career at Alamance Community College, where she taught adult education courses and prepared her students to re-enter the workforce as teachers. She was honored as Instructor of the Year in 2016. 

On Thursday, Jill was surely welcomed with open arms into heaven by her beloved parents, Roger and Mary Lou Isaac, with precious dogs Perci, Phoenix and Fella nipping eagerly at her heels. 

In addition to her immediate family, Jill is survived by siblings Kenny Isaac, Dale Isaac, Clark Isaac, Rosemary Isaac and Cindy Hoffman, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and lifelong friend Cindy Miller. 

In lieu of flowers, and to support Jill’s passion for supporting educators, donations can be made to Donors Choose. Following a private Celebration of Life service, the family will receive friends at St. Mark’s Church, where Jill was a member, in Burlington on Monday, Nov. 25, from 1-3 p.m. 

Here if you need us, Mommy, here if you don’t. We always need you. 

Thank You. For everything.