Otealia Lail Baldwin, 87, of the Nantahala community, passed away Thursday, June 29, 2016, in Buncombe County.
She was born in Buncombe County to the late Henry Clay and Palace Jones Lail.
Otealia had worked as an advocate for low income senior citizens and part time with the Macon County Forest Service as an environmental aide.
She was a member of Aquone Baptist Church, where she was a Sunday school teacher for more than 62 years.
Otealia loved her family with all her heart. She loved camping, gospel music, traveling, gardening and reading her Bible.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Earl Kimsey Baldwin; one son, Lynn Baldwin; one brother, David Lail; and two sisters, Betty Sue Lail and Eleanor Lail.
She is survived by two sons, Richard Baldwin and wife Barbara and Tommy Baldwin and wife Shirley, all of Topton; one sister, Linda Horner of Florida; one daughter-in-law, Reta Baldwin of Andrews; seven grandchildren, Chris Baldwin and wife Donna, Ginger Ramsey and husband Scott, Melissa Baldwin, Tammy Coleman and husband Steve, Chucky Baldwin and wife Misty, Scott Baldwin and wife Amy and Kevin Baldwin; 20 great-grandchildren, Gavin Baldwin, Serena, Anna and Noah Ramsey, Lauren and Amber Gearhart, Blake, Brook and Bryson Newton, Eric Duong, Shyla and Wyatt Coleman, Whitney, Jena, Hunter, Chloe, Dylan Corey Baldwin, Hannah and Aubrey Baldwin.
Funeral services were held at 7 p.m. Friday, July 1, at Aquone Baptist Church in Topton. The Rev. David Postell officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery. Grandsons served as pallbearers.
The family received friends from 6-7 p.m. Friday, July 1, at Aquone Baptist Church in Topton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Baptist Children’s Home of North Carolina, P.O. Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27361-0338.
You may send tributes to the Baldwin family at www.townson-rose.com.
Townson-Rose Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.