Jonathan Jerome Baker , son of Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew and Arnetha Baker, was born on May 24, 1941 in Marion, South Carolina. He peacefully slipped away and answered the call to life eternal and entered the Church Triumphant  on Sunday, October 13, 2019 at home in Goose Creek, SC.

He received his early education  in the Marion County Public Schools, graduating from Marion County Training School, now Johnakin Middle School, in 1959. After graduating from high school, he began his college studies at Rutgers The State University of New Jersey. In 1974, he transferred to Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, where the Bachelor of Arts Degree (Cum Laude) was conferred upon him. He earned the Master of Divinity Degree from Turner at The Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, GA. He earned a Doctorate Degree from Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburg, Indiana. He did further studies in pastoral care and marriage and family enrichment. He lectured in the ministry of marriage and family life, church and Biblical doctrine and human behavior.

Jonathan was a lifelong member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and started his Christian pilgrimage at St. John AME Church, Marion, SC. After moving to New Jersey, he joined Israel Memorial AME Church, Newark, NJ, where he met his forever love, Virginia Janet Guess whom he married on May 24,1970. Jonathan was active in Israel Memorial AME Church and served in several capacities to include Sunday School Superintendent. In  1971 at St. James AME Church, Atlantic City, NJ, Jonathan was ordained an Itinerant Deacon. In 1973, he was ordained an Itinerant Elder at Mt. Zion AME Church, Plainfield, NJ at the New Jersey Annual Conference. After 32 years of pastoring, he was appointed a Presiding Elder in 2004 and assigned to the Greenville District of the Piedmont Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District. He served four years in the Piedmont Conference, and was then assigned to the Central Annual Conference, serving one year in the Manning District. Because of his love for the local church, he returned to pastoring and was appointed pastor of Jehovah AME Church, Cross, SC where he served for seven years until his retirement. He has served 14 charges in the First, Sixth and Seventh Episcopal Districts respectively. After 50 years in the active ministry, Jonathan retired at the 2016 Palmetto Annual Conference.

Jonathan's love and knowledge of African Methodism provided opportunities to: serve on the Judicial Council of the AME Church from 1984-2000; serve as Delegate to seven General Conferences; and serve on the Church Strategic Planning Committee and Revisions Committee. He taught in the religious departments of Allen University and Morris College. He served on the Board of Examiners for several conferences; culminating in him serving as Chair and then Dean of the Board of Examiners of the Palmetto Annual Conference. He was a community activist and strong supporter of human and civil rights efforts. He was a member of Who's Who in Colleges and Universities and Who's Who among American Religious Professionals.

Jonathan served in the United States Army and was a Vietnam veteran, serving one tour of duty at Cam Ranh Bay Air Fore Base, Vietnam as a weapons specialist.

Jonathan has served as either Pastor or Presiding Elder in every conference in the Seventh Episcopal District.  His service earned him recognition to include: The Outstanding and Dedicated Service to the East Cooper Branch NAACP Award, several Exemplary Instructor Edisto District Christian Education Department Awards and Pastor's Choice 2011 Award Palmetto Conference WMS. Jonathan has written several articles for The Christian Recorder of the AME Church and facilitated many workshops for various components and ministries across the Connectional AME Church.

Jonathan's personal mission statement was: "I believe that every human being is created in the image of God and is a person of dignity and worth; therefore, I will endeavor to respond to every human being as a person of dignity and worth. I will keep an open mind concerning all that I hear, see or read. I will do everything I can to grow spiritually, socially and intellectually; and, I will do everything I can to help others grow as well. I will live and let live."

Jonathan loved the AME Church, his wife, children and family. He loved to increase his knowledge by reading, traveling, watching Westerns and other classic TV shows. He was a MAJOR snacker, some of his favorites being: Baby Ruth, Mary Janes and Nutty Buddy. In his spare time and after he retired, he enjoyed gardening, tending to his lawn and light home improvement projects. You could always count on Jonathan for a good laugh, story or interesting facts. If you ever had a chance to visit Jonathan at home, and there was something you needed, you could count on Jonathan to have it! He also loved to SHOP, buying multiples of everything he owned!

Jonathan was preceded in death by: his parents; and siblings, Ruth Legette, Mary Blake, Edmond B. Baker, Louvenia Hill and Rev. Lucretia Leonard.

Jonathan leaves to cherish his memory: his feisty and loving wife of 49 years, affectionately called by him, "Pretty Lady", Virginia Janet Guess Baker; daughters, Georgia (Myles) Porter, Anchorage, AK, Jenice Boone, Charlotte, NC, Benita Jo (Willie) Newman, Columbia, SC and Candace' (Kevin) Plaskett, Concord, NC; grandchildren, Renea Reddish, Warren Barker, Jeffrey Barker, Lakeshia (Rodino) Tew, Charnice Butts, Anthony (Bria) Boone, Angellette Boone, Willie Newman, III, Ka'Bria (Braxton) Drummond, Charles Newman and Jonathan Richards; seven great-grandchildren; a sister, Jackquilin Baker-Hall; sisters-in-law, Marguerite (Harold) Brant, Thelma Shaw and Marjorie Guess; brother-in-law, Jerry Hill; a special daughter, Penny Jefferson Bellesen; a special cousin, former Episcopal Supervisor, Dr. Theresa Gregg (Bishop Frederick C.) James; nieces, nephews, a host of other relatives and friends