Doris Baird Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Doris Jean Pendergraph Baird left this world peacefully on April 16, 2019 with her three children by her side. She was preceded in death by her parents—Benton Gibbs Pendergraph and Doris Lucile Gale—and her sister, Sherry Pendergraph Tillett. She is survived by her children, James Brett Baird, Jason Bartt (Allison) Baird and Jeana Brittney Baird in addition to her grandchildren: Jett Parker Baird, Brooklyn Grace Baird and Rhett Alan Baird. She is also survived by her brother, Gail (Anita) Pendergraph and their daughters, Kimberly and Nichole. Doris was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1943 and attended Norview High School. She excelled in dance at an early age and performed in recitals through her teens. She moved to Nashville with her then-husband, James Parker Baird, in the mid-60s, settling in Antioch. A life-long sports fan, she was a staunch supporter of the Tennessee Titans, Nashville Predators and Vanderbilt athletics—the baseball team, specifically. A huge fan of country music, Doris took advantage of life in Music City by attending many concerts at Fan Fair and Opryland. She was particularly fond of Tracy Byrd and Marty Stuart. She also loved anything by Elvis. As a single-mother, Doris stressed the importance of education to her children and was proud to see them all become accomplished in their fields. Doris retired in 2010 from the United Methodist Publishing House where she made many lasting friendships. Her laugh was distinct and you could hear it for miles. She never met a stranger and would chat about anything and everything to all who would listen. Above all else, she was a loving and devoted Granny to all her grandchildren and never missed an opportunity to spend time with them and make certain they had all they needed. A celebration of Doris’ life will be held Saturday, April 27 at 2 p.m. at the home of Sharon Ferrara and Martin Slutsky. Contact 615-812-8935 for directions. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Pet Community Center, 943B Dr. Richard G. Adams Drive, Nashville, TN 37207 or to the Nashville Public Library Foundation at www.nplf.org