Obituary of Teresa Baker

Teresa (Teri) Whittle Baker (62 years of age) of Hillsborough, NC, passed away on January 1, 2025, at Hospice Care UNC Medical Center in Pittsboro, NC. Teri was born on May 9, 1962, in Albany, GA to Billy R. Whittle and Gerry Whittle Davis of Aberdeen, NC.

Teri grew up in Lakeview, NC, and lived most of her life in Moore County, NC. Teri is well known in Moore County and beyond for being the most loving, kind and generous person you would ever find. According to her family, they have always referred to Teri as a living angel on earth. Teri had a heart of gold and even in early childhood, she would literally give someone in need the shirt off her back. Loving and giving continued throughout Teri’s life; if she thought you were in need of anything, she would immediately go about helping you get it. And no matter who you are, if Teri thought you would be alone on a holiday, you would not, you would be at her house having a grand home-cooked meal. Teri had a wide range of friends from practically homeless to wealthy, and she had a beautiful way of bringing people together from all walks of life and literally teaching her love, kindness and generosity to others. She was an absolutely amazing human being!

Teri owned the Whistle Stop Café in Southern Pines until she moved with her husband, Ricky Baker, to Conway, SC. When Ricky and Teri met, Ricky was the Fire Chief at Southern Pines, NC Fire Department, then the Fire Chief in Conway, SC and is the current Fire Chief at Orange Grove Volunteer Fire Department. Teri worked for Crossmark as a retail merchandiser for many years and up until her passing, covering various regions in NC and SC. According to her boss and coworkers, she was truly admired by her work community.

Teri was very proud to be the wife of a Fire Chief and took that role very seriously, giving full and complete support to Ricky and the Fire Departments he served. She was an active supporter of the Orange Grove Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary in their support of the department. Teri was a proud supporter of children’s hospice programs. Her kindness, compassion and generosity helped numerous children with life-limiting illnesses receive holiday wishes. Teri was an active member of the Orange Grove Community and a member of Cane Creek Baptist Church. 

Teri is survived by her husband, Ricky J. Baker; her two sons, James Zalascek and wife, Jennifer, and Jordan Ratcliff and partner, Graham; her stepson, Jeremy Baker, and wife, Cambridge, and stepdaughter, Ciara Marlow and husband, Tyson; her mother, Gerry Whittle Davis; her two sisters, Debbie W. Lobo and husband Luis, and Tammy W. Parsons and husband Darrell. Teri also had five grandchildren, Luke and Rhyatt Zalascek, Piper and Emmett Baker, and Dawson Marlow along with five nephews and a niece. Teri was preceded in death by her father, Billy R. Whittle.

A visitation with family will be held on Monday, January 6, 2025, at 1:00 PM with a funeral service to follow at 2:00 PM. The visitation and service will both be held at Cane Creek Baptist Church, 6901 Orange Grove Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278. A Celebration of Life reception will follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to a Sam’s Wish Fund at Kids Path of Hospice-Authoracare, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215 or the Orange Grove Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary at 6800 Orange Grove Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278.

The families of Ricky and Teri Baker would like to express their deepest appreciation and sincere gratitude for the tremendous support and thousands of kindnesses shown to them throughout this difficult journey, including the Orange Grove community at large, Orange Grove Fire Department, neighbors, acquaintances, family and friends.