Died July 15, 2016, at his residence in Charleston.
Born January 10, 1927, in Mississippi County to the late Silas and Nellie Gregory Baker. He worked as a mechanic prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Air Force. A veteran of WWII, he was discharged in May 1947. He returned to Mississippi County to resume his job as a mechanic until he began working with his future wife's sister and brother-in-law, John and Minnie Warren at Johnnie's Drive In in Charleston. In the early 1950s, he and his brother, Vernon Baker, purchased the popular food establishment and became co-owners of Johnnie's Drive In, an iconic legend famous for their hamburgers and pit barbecue. Lloyd and his wife, Martha Jane, assumed ownership of Johnnie's after Vernon's death and continued cooking their iconic menu until they retired in April 1994. A landowner in Kentucky, he spent sometime farming, but the majority of his time was spent behind the grill at Johnnie's. For many years, Lloyd manned the grill at the annual Girl Scouts Hamburger Day held at the Charleston Armory. If any girl scout wondered why Hamburger Day was always on Wednesday, it's because Johnnie's was only closed one day a week - Wednesday. Shortly after retirement, Lloyd and Martha Jane opened the doors once more for a Johnnie's Day to benefit a youth mission trip for their church, Charleston First Baptist. The day proved to be an overwhelming success.
On March 11, 1951, he married Martha Jane Slaten who survives of the home.
Also surviving are three children, Nancy Ponder (Butch Martis) of Boutte, LA; Kathy (Mike) Garrard of Charleston, and Allen (Kathy) Baker of St. Ann, IL; one brother, Leon (Margaret) Baker of Cape Girardeau; four grandchildren, Leia (Ben) Milster of Luling, LA, Gina (William) Taylor of Destrehan, LA; Jake (Margie) Garrard of Cape Girardeau, and P.J. (Heather) Ponder of Opelousa, LA; also four great grandchildren, Ellie and Levi Milster, Aleyna and Isaiah Taylor, and two more on the way.
He was preceded in death by one grandson, Benjamin Ponder, one great granddaughter, Akyria Taylor, two brothers, Dr. Bernard Baker and Vernon Baker; and one sister, Alma Frances Baker.
McMikle Funeral Home
Born January 10, 1927, in Mississippi County to the late Silas and Nellie Gregory Baker. He worked as a mechanic prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Air Force. A veteran of WWII, he was discharged in May 1947. He returned to Mississippi County to resume his job as a mechanic until he began working with his future wife's sister and brother-in-law, John and Minnie Warren at Johnnie's Drive In in Charleston. In the early 1950s, he and his brother, Vernon Baker, purchased the popular food establishment and became co-owners of Johnnie's Drive In, an iconic legend famous for their hamburgers and pit barbecue. Lloyd and his wife, Martha Jane, assumed ownership of Johnnie's after Vernon's death and continued cooking their iconic menu until they retired in April 1994. A landowner in Kentucky, he spent sometime farming, but the majority of his time was spent behind the grill at Johnnie's. For many years, Lloyd manned the grill at the annual Girl Scouts Hamburger Day held at the Charleston Armory. If any girl scout wondered why Hamburger Day was always on Wednesday, it's because Johnnie's was only closed one day a week - Wednesday. Shortly after retirement, Lloyd and Martha Jane opened the doors once more for a Johnnie's Day to benefit a youth mission trip for their church, Charleston First Baptist. The day proved to be an overwhelming success.
On March 11, 1951, he married Martha Jane Slaten who survives of the home.
Also surviving are three children, Nancy Ponder (Butch Martis) of Boutte, LA; Kathy (Mike) Garrard of Charleston, and Allen (Kathy) Baker of St. Ann, IL; one brother, Leon (Margaret) Baker of Cape Girardeau; four grandchildren, Leia (Ben) Milster of Luling, LA, Gina (William) Taylor of Destrehan, LA; Jake (Margie) Garrard of Cape Girardeau, and P.J. (Heather) Ponder of Opelousa, LA; also four great grandchildren, Ellie and Levi Milster, Aleyna and Isaiah Taylor, and two more on the way.
He was preceded in death by one grandson, Benjamin Ponder, one great granddaughter, Akyria Taylor, two brothers, Dr. Bernard Baker and Vernon Baker; and one sister, Alma Frances Baker.
McMikle Funeral Home
Died July 15, 2016, at his residence in Charleston.
Born January 10, 1927, in Mississippi County to the late Silas and Nellie Gregory Baker. He worked as a mechanic prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Air Force. A veteran of WWII, he was discharged in May 1947. He returned to Mississippi County to resume his job as a mechanic until he began working with his future wife's sister and brother-in-law, John and Minnie Warren at Johnnie's Drive In in Charleston. In the early 1950s, he and his brother, Vernon Baker, purchased the popular food establishment and became co-owners of Johnnie's Drive In, an iconic legend famous for their hamburgers and pit barbecue. Lloyd and his wife, Martha Jane, assumed ownership of Johnnie's after Vernon's death and continued cooking their iconic menu until they retired in April 1994. A landowner in Kentucky, he spent sometime farming, but the majority of his time was spent behind the grill at Johnnie's. For many years, Lloyd manned the grill at the annual Girl Scouts Hamburger Day held at the Charleston Armory. If any girl scout wondered why Hamburger Day was always on Wednesday, it's because Johnnie's was only closed one day a week - Wednesday. Shortly after retirement, Lloyd and Martha Jane opened the doors once more for a Johnnie's Day to benefit a youth mission trip for their church, Charleston First Baptist. The day proved to be an overwhelming success.
On March 11, 1951, he married Martha Jane Slaten who survives of the home.
Also surviving are three children, Nancy Ponder (Butch Martis) of Boutte, LA; Kathy (Mike) Garrard of Charleston, and Allen (Kathy) Baker of St. Ann, IL; one brother, Leon (Margaret) Baker of Cape Girardeau; four grandchildren, Leia (Ben) Milster of Luling, LA, Gina (William) Taylor of Destrehan, LA; Jake (Margie) Garrard of Cape Girardeau, and P.J. (Heather) Ponder of Opelousa, LA; also four great grandchildren, Ellie and Levi Milster, Aleyna and Isaiah Taylor, and two more on the way.
He was preceded in death by one grandson, Benjamin Ponder, one great granddaughter, Akyria Taylor, two brothers, Dr. Bernard Baker and Vernon Baker; and one sister, Alma Frances Baker.
McMikle Funeral Home
Born January 10, 1927, in Mississippi County to the late Silas and Nellie Gregory Baker. He worked as a mechanic prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Air Force. A veteran of WWII, he was discharged in May 1947. He returned to Mississippi County to resume his job as a mechanic until he began working with his future wife's sister and brother-in-law, John and Minnie Warren at Johnnie's Drive In in Charleston. In the early 1950s, he and his brother, Vernon Baker, purchased the popular food establishment and became co-owners of Johnnie's Drive In, an iconic legend famous for their hamburgers and pit barbecue. Lloyd and his wife, Martha Jane, assumed ownership of Johnnie's after Vernon's death and continued cooking their iconic menu until they retired in April 1994. A landowner in Kentucky, he spent sometime farming, but the majority of his time was spent behind the grill at Johnnie's. For many years, Lloyd manned the grill at the annual Girl Scouts Hamburger Day held at the Charleston Armory. If any girl scout wondered why Hamburger Day was always on Wednesday, it's because Johnnie's was only closed one day a week - Wednesday. Shortly after retirement, Lloyd and Martha Jane opened the doors once more for a Johnnie's Day to benefit a youth mission trip for their church, Charleston First Baptist. The day proved to be an overwhelming success.
On March 11, 1951, he married Martha Jane Slaten who survives of the home.
Also surviving are three children, Nancy Ponder (Butch Martis) of Boutte, LA; Kathy (Mike) Garrard of Charleston, and Allen (Kathy) Baker of St. Ann, IL; one brother, Leon (Margaret) Baker of Cape Girardeau; four grandchildren, Leia (Ben) Milster of Luling, LA, Gina (William) Taylor of Destrehan, LA; Jake (Margie) Garrard of Cape Girardeau, and P.J. (Heather) Ponder of Opelousa, LA; also four great grandchildren, Ellie and Levi Milster, Aleyna and Isaiah Taylor, and two more on the way.
He was preceded in death by one grandson, Benjamin Ponder, one great granddaughter, Akyria Taylor, two brothers, Dr. Bernard Baker and Vernon Baker; and one sister, Alma Frances Baker.
McMikle Funeral Home
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