Anita Heckle Baker passed away peacefully at home March 17, 2024, after a brief illness. Beloved mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, Anita was known by her love for people and the impact she made in others’ lives for the better. She opened doors of opportunity and growth for many people. She was a dedicated advocate, a trusted friend and counselor, and a fervent servant of her Lord, and always put others before herself. She saw potential in others and encouraged them to take steps in their lives that changed their lives forever.
Born in Bennettsville, S.C., May 6, 1934, to Harvey Newton Heckle and Mary Helen Pitts Heckle, she and her sister, Amelia Heckle Stone, moved several times within the state of South Carolina as children of a civil engineer with the South Carolina Highway Department. The family moved to Florence until Anita’s teenage years, when the family settled in Chester, S. C. She is a graduate of Chester High School Class of 1952. Active in the Chester First Baptist Church, and blessed to work as teenagers at Runyan Jewelers in downtown Chester, the family lived an idyllic small town South Carolina life until both girls graduated to attend Furman University.
Anita graduated from Furman University in 1956 with a BA in music. Her first employment position after graduation was to serve as organist for Augusta Road Baptist Church. She moved to Columbia to work for the South Carolina Baptist Convention student department and served as associate director for nine years. She then began her career in nonprofit management as associate director of the American Heart Association in S. C. where she served for nine years. She was director of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in S.C. for one year and then served on its board of directors after her children were born.
Anita met her husband, Columbia attorney, Charles Edward Baker, (Baker Ravenel and Bender, L. L. P.) while working for the American Heart Association, and the two found they shared a love of the arts. She served her community well as a volunteer with the Columbia Music Festival Association, Town Theatre, Columbia Drama Club, Evening Music Club, and Crepe Myrtle Garden Club. Anita was known in Columbia as a gracious and capable entertainer. During these years, Charlie and Anita had the pleasure to entertain guest artists in their home who visited Columbia to perform from around the world with the Columbia Music Festival Association.
Anita had the talent and ability to teach music to young children. She served as the Music Makers choir director at Kilbourne Park Baptist Church for many years and led music for the church’s children’s church program every Sunday morning during the worship service. She also contributed her leadership skills to make way for the development of the preschool weekday educational program at Kilbourne Park Baptist Church where her own children were fortunate to begin their education. She taught music and chorus at Timmerman School for 11 years. Anita was gifted with children and touched many lives.
Anita served as a lead fundraiser, project manager, administrator, and volunteer coordinator for the Mental Health Association of South Carolina, now Mental Health America of South Carolina, for 25 years. She helped many people and their families find the services they needed so they might better manage their journey with mental illness.
After retirement, Anita continued to serve part-time as volunteer coordinator for the box office at Town Theatre. She and Charlie both served on the board of directors for many years and all four members of the family were involved at Town Theatre either on or off the stage for decades. Anita was recognized for over 50 years of volunteer service to Town Theatre.
Anita Heckle Baker was predeceased by her parents, Harvey Newton Heckle and Mary Helen Pitts Heckle, and her husband, Charles Edward Baker. She is survived by her sister, Amelia Heckle Stone, her two daughters, Anita Tremblay Baker and Carol Minton Baker, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A visitation will be held April 5, 2024, from 5–7 p.m. at the Dunbar Funeral Home on Devine Street. The funeral will be held April 6 at 2 p.m. immediately followed by a burial service at Elmwood Cemetery. Information is available on the website www.DunbarFunerals.com.
The family asks memorials be sent to Town Theatre and to Kilbourne Park Baptist Church.
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