January 18, 1962 – April 12, 2022
William Henry Baker, Jr., affectionately known as “Junie Baker 21” and “Uncle Will”, was called to his heavenly home, on April 12, 2022. William resided in Richmond, VA, but was originally from Norfolk, VA. He was born to Dorothy L. Baker-Garris and step-father, Robert Garris, Jr., and William H. Baker, Sr., and
William’s family relocated to Petersburg, VA, when he was four years old. He attended Petersburg Public Schools and began a love for sports. During his year’s art Peabody Junior High and Petersburg High School, he participated in various sports such as basketball, track & field, wresting and football. His jersey number was “21” and also his nickname.
In the school year of 1979-1980, he was one of the favored football players who earned the AAA Championship Title which he and his family were extremely proud of.
William enlisted in the United States Army in 1982. He was employed at Community Business Group and Brown’s Enterprise of Richmond, VA. He continued his education in 2013 at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College studying Substance Abuse Counseling.
William also had a passion for music. He attended countless concerts with family and friends who looked-up to him as a positive role model to the young and the old. William had the most beautiful teeth and smile that anyone would recognize, also William had a deep relationship with God. He also was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandmother, Nora Lee Key Metcalf and step-grandfather, James Metcalf, and grandfather, Sam Richard Mason.
William leaves to cherish his memories: a devoted son, William Lutrelle Story (mother, Alfreda Story-deceased); grandchildren, Kristopher “KJ” Williams, Tyler Story, Matthew Raines, and Antoinette Williams; stepchildren, Mario “Rio”, Sara, Matthew “Flip”, Zyionne, Karter “Stink Butt”, Ma’Tazia “Matty”, and DJ “Tugboat”, William’s life-partner, Russella “Peachez” Wormley; his in-laws, Russell Wormley, Sr. and Clara Wormley; a devoted sister, Hope Lee Baker; devoted nephews, Sidney S. Williams, Jr. (Raven), Yobby B. Williams (Brooke) and George E. Williams (Valeria Roca); great nephews and great nieces, Sidney S. Williams, Nasir .S Williams, Yobby B. Williams, Riley A. Williams, George E. Williams, Genesis R. Williams, and Sofia R. Short; devoted aunts, Eva Brown, Thelma L. Rose, and Leona Bibbins; devoted uncles, John Richard Brown, Pead Westbrook, Warren Stamp, and Edward Bibbins; devoted cousins, Sherl Brooks, Nikita Rose, Charles, Rose, Jennifer Walker, Amos Brown (Rudy), Anthony Bibbins, Edward Bibbins, Beverly Potts, Shauntell Briggs, Milton Wells, Aaron and Daaron Brooks, Quinten Wells, Lawrence Brown, John Brown, Wendy Brown-Louthian, Namron Bibbins, Valerie Taylor Drake, Leon Taylor, Marvin C. Taylor, Wayne Rivers, Keith Rivers, Jennifer Rivers, Sheila Rivers Adams, Gloria Rivers, Kenneth Rivers, Victor Rivers and Doris Rivers Saunders; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends. William also leaves to cherish his memories his devoted friends, Tyrone and Jerome Bonner, Glen Pullman, Daryl and Alfonzo Stith, Brian Smith, and Ricky Hunley; and a host of friends, the Petersburg High School Class of 1981 and the Community of Petersburg and Richmond knew William Baker “21”.
A memorial service will be held 5:00 P.M., Saturday, April 23, 2022 at the Chapel of J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA.
J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com