KENNETH EDWIN BAKER, 50 – a resident of Montgomery, AL died Sunday, November 11, at his home of natural causes.
Mr. Baker was a native of Griffin, GA. He graduated from Flint River Academy. He attended Auburn University and graduated in 1980 with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture. After graduation, he moved to Montgomery where he began a long career in landscape and design. He owned Perennial Favorites Landscaping. His landscape designs have been a Montgomery favorite for many years and are very apparent in his Old Cloverdale home.
As well as being an avid gardener, Ken was well known and respected for his civil rights and gay rights work. He established Equality Begins at Home of Central Alabama, which later became Equality Alabama. He spearheaded many rallies against injustice and hate. He successfully acquired, remodeled, and opened Equality Alabama’s first office in Montgomery on South Perry Street. He has been recognized nationwide for his work. Among the many recognitions, he received the Equality Alabama Board Chair Award and the Crystal Cross award from Unity United Church of Christ. Ken was also active with the National Organization for Women (NOW), Open Hearts and Minds Lectures, the Montgomery Peace Project, and other organizations. Ken was a member of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Montgomery.
Ken leaves to cherish his memory his devoted partner of 8 years, Tony Hickman, [lots of loving family whose names I'm not going to list here], and his beloved dogs.
May he rest in peace, Kathy. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Thank you!
He seems to have been a gentle man and a leader who lit a light of understanding and compassion. May his torch be picked up by someone and continue to glow in his memory.
Kathy,
Lori and I send our thoughts and prayers to Tony and to you and your family. We are so sorry.
I’m so sorry for your loss, and the loss to our state. I know from all you’ve told me that he was a terrific activist, and we don’t have enough of those here.
[...] heart aches for friend and fellow Alabama blogger Kathy whose brother died unexpectedly [...]
Sincere sympathies. May faith, friends and family bring comfort in your time of loss.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
Thanks, everyone. The kind words mean a lot.
Kathy – Your words regarding Ken are beautiful and very obviously show your love for him. I know you are hurting. Ken’s spirit will live on though. Prayers for you, your mom and Tony.
There will be a lot of words spoken over the next couple of days because of the heroic work Ken did for civil rights, peace and social justice in this frequent backwater of a state. The fact that Ken was by nature a shy person makes that vital work even more heroic.
But the thing I saw in Ken that was most heroic was not about politics or the things that put him in the public eye. The most heroic thing that I watched my dear brother in law do was to take care of his father in the last year of his father’s life. Ken took care of his Daddy (as Ken and Kathy always called Ed) with an attention and compassion that were inspirational. The first time I went to spend a week to take care of Ed, I was scared. I mean this was a man I looked up to as much as anyone I’ve ever known. Apart from my own incompetence in such matters, how could I take care of a person who had been a rock for me for nearly two decades now that he could not take care of himself? My prayers were answered in the loving, patient teaching and example of Ken. It was not so much that you be competent, even though he was that, it was abut loving Ed. If you focused on that, everything took care of itself. I learned that from watching Ken and his wonderful mother.
Ken and my other brother-in-law, his partner and my dear friend, Tony willingly shut down their life so that his father could have the best in his final months and days. At Ed’s funeral the minister who gave the eulogy (a close family friend) said he had never seen a family surround a dying person with support and love like that in nearly fifty years of ministry.
And as much as Ken has done for the rights of others and as much as he has done to make this state a better place, he will be a hero to me for genuine love and goodness and taking care of his dear Daddy. That is what I will always remember most.
Hi Kathy — you’re very much in our thoughts. I just posted about Ken over at my pad.
I was at Immanuel with Ken for several years, but now I am living in Colorado.
I wish there was a way that I could be there for the service on Thursday.
Ken’s work for equality was amazing, but I will remember most his smile and his kindness to me through the years I was in Montgomery.
My greatest sympathy to you and to all of us who knew Ken
Kathy, I’m so sorry. My condolences to you, Tony, and everyone in your family.
[...] Update** Read Kathy’s Post about Ken here [...]
What an amazing legacy of love! He may be gone, but it sounds like he will live on in people’s hearts for a long time.
LOVE!!
Jennifer
Dear Kathy–Your brother sounds like he was a wonderful person, and I am so sorry for your loss.
Love, Kiki
Kathy,
Monday-Sharon and I were sitting on the bench in the back yard. We both looked at each other and couldn’t get over the prolific scent of something beautiful. Nothing was in bloom that we noticed. Later that night, while driving home to Tallhassee, we realized that it must have been Ken> there with us in his garden. We both cried> realizing that he was sending a message. I never had the pleasure to meet Ken > yet I feel I know him so well.
My heart goes out to you, Tony, your Mother and all the family. Sharon told me how beautiful the service was.
Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you and the family.
Much Love,
Gina
Thanks again for all the kind words. Gina, I was so glad to meet you. Ken is going to remain very present in many places, especially in the gardens that he built around Montgomery. I’ll be at the Equality Alabama office in Montgomery tomorrow, and I know he’ll be there too.
Kathy, I’m so sorry for your loss. It must be especially difficult since he was so young. Take care.
[...] around here. I wish I had the words to describe it; perhaps that would exorcise some of the pain. My brother’s memorial service was beautiful, a reflection of his life and work. The church was full to [...]
[...] Kathy, from Birmingham Blues, recently lost her brother Ken. She posted a loving tribute to him here, and she also provides insight into why opposing marriage for same sex couples is fundamentally [...]
[...] Ken would have been 51 today. I miss him so much. [...]