Thomas Gerald Baggs, 79, recently of Brunswick, but originally from Blackshear, died Tuesday, March 14, 2023.
Born in Townsend January 1, 1944, he was the son of Ralph and Cleo Davis Baggs. He was preceded in death by his parents; a special friend, Grant Whitfield and siblings, Lawton Baggs, Emory Baggs, Marion Baggs, Stanford Baggs and Melba Baggs Walters.
He was retired from the education profession, having worked in public schools in Georgia for some 47 years. Nearly 40 of those years were in the field of special education, where he worked first as a classroom teacher and later as an administrator of special education programs. He retired from the Thomaston-Upson School System, in which he worked for 38 years. His first teaching positions were with the Pickens County School system, where he taught kindergarten before moving into special education.
A 1962 graduate of Blackshear High School, he was a proud alumni of Young Harris College. He also earned degrees in the education field from Georgia Southern University, the University of West Georgia and the University of Georgia.
His entire adult life was spent in service to others. Prior to becoming employed as a teacher, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Brazil and was enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he trained as a medic and worked at the Walter Reed Army Hospital as a nurse.
He loved to travel, often with friends and family. He made trips to Egypt, Brazil, England, Ireland and Mexico as well as road trips across much of the United States and to Alaska. He admired things of beauty, whether it be fine art hanging in a museum or a colorful bird in his backyard. He enjoyed cooking for others, including playful experiments with food colors and was a voracious reader, especially of Stephen King novels.
But more than anything, he loved his family and interacted with siblings, nieces and nephews at every opportunity. He served as caretaker for some family members, mentor and counselor to others and was always available to help in whatever manner was needed. He enjoyed genealogy and served as the family historian, having traced roots of the family tree back several generations.
Survivors include his sisters Joyce B. Waters, Brunswick, Glenda Fay Baggs, Blackshear, and Barbara (Doug) Maple, Cedar Key, FL; sisters-in-law, Sherleen Baggs, Newberry, FL and Yvonne Baggs, Brunswick; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 16, at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 17, from the Pearson-Dial Chapel with the Rev. Hampton Williams officiating and Norma Baggs, nephew, delivering the eulogy.
Interment will follow in the Baggs Family Cenetery near Ludowici.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com.
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.
