Maria Reid Baird

Miss Maria Reid Baird, 99, died Monday, September 29, 2008, at River Landing Presbyterian Home at Sandy Ridge in Colfax. She and her sister, Mary Watkins Baird Goodwin, resided at River Landing since 2003. Miss Baird was born January 13, 1909, in Rockingham County, to the late Dr. Campbell Atkinson Baird and Alice Mebane Baird. Miss Baird was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church in Mount Airy, where she had also served as organist. She was a graduate of Flora MacDonald College and earned a master's degree in education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Miss Baird taught in the North Carolina Public School System for 45 years focusing on Latin and English. Her passion for education, music, religion, and family was inspirational. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She is survived by her nephews and nieces, Russell Baird Goodwin of Lewisville, Campbell Atkinson Baird, III of Phillipsburg, NJ, Mebane Walker Baird Sherard of Wilmington, and Elizabeth Mebane Goodwin Maree of Gainesville, FL; and her great nieces and nephews, Kenyon Russell Maree of Watertown, MA, Kristen Reece-Collins of Chapel Hill, Gene Stevenson "Trey" Sherard and Savannah Baird Sherard, both of Wilmington, Ryon Baird Maree of Athens, GA, and Kaitlin Elizabeth Goodwin of Lewisville. In addition to her parents, Miss Baird was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Watkins Baird Goodwin of Winston-Salem; and a brother, Campbell Atkinson Baird, Jr. of Wilmington. The funeral service will be held Friday, October 3, 2008, at 2:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church. The service will be conducted by Dr. Steve Lindsley, and burial will follow at Oakdale Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy. If desired, memorial contributions can be made to First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 1286, Mount Airy, NC 27030.