George E. Baker was born in Huntsville, Alabama to the late James Ollie Baker and Mother Floarine Baker. He has three sisters and three brothers. His oldest brother Ollie D. Baker is deceased.
George attended Mt. Fork Elementary school in New Market, Alabama from grades 1st through 3rd, and he attended Councill Training school from grades 4th through 12th. He was in the last graduating class from Councill Training School in 1970 because of desegregation.
George enlisted in the Army in December 1972, where he served three years active duty, and 22 years in the Army Reserve. He served with honor, duty, and pride and was honorably discharged in March 1998.
George met his wife Carrol Brown-Baker at Alabama A&M in 1971. He was attending J.F. Drake Technical College at the time. They have two beautiful and awesome sons (Bram and Deron), four wonderful grandchildren (Torin, Mason, London, and Autumn), and two lovely daughters-in-law (Jennifer and Danisha).
George enrolled at Alabama A&M University in the fall of 1975 and graduated in the spring of 1981. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Telecommunications, along with numerous certifications in program management/project management/multimedia.
George was hired by NASA/Kentron in May 1983 as a Television Producer for a new television network that NASA was building to cover space flight around the clock.
His first award was for the Most Outstanding Black Producer for the nationally syndicated gospel television program, “At The Crossroads.” George received NASA’s prestigious Silver Snoopy Award in 2000, an award received by less than 1% of the NASA workforce. Throughout his career, he received several awards and honors for his work in Television/Multimedia and the Military. He retired from NASA in 2014 with 32 years of service as a contractor serving in the capacity of Program Manager of NASA Television in Washington D.C.
Since retiring, George dedicates his talents to the AAMU Huntsville-Madison County Alumni Chapter serving as the Telephone Committee Chairperson, member of the Scholarship and Fundraising committees, and, with great enthusiasm volunteers as chapter photographer and social media point of contact. His volunteer work earned him The William Hooper Councill Award and the 1981 Class Achievement Award.
George is a Life Member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 26 in Huntsville where he served as Chaplain, Social Media Contributor, a member of the fundraising committee, and Lead for the Benefits Protection Team. He has donated over 2000 hours of service helping local veterans in the North Alabama community. In 2016 he received the Veteran of the Year Award. Currently, he serves as Chaplain for the North Alabama Veterans Fraternal Organization Coalition.
George has been a member of Lowes Chapel United Methodist Church for 38 years. Throughout his service at Lowes Chapel, he has served as a Sunday School Teacher, Liturgist, and MC for numerous special programs. On occasion, he would bring the message for the United Methodist Men’s monthly gathering. Minister Baker is also a Certified Lay Speaker.
Some of his hobbies include gardening, coin collecting, photography, writing poetry, and studying bible history.
Recently, George received his Pastoral Ministry Certification from Emory University Licensing School, completing the course with honors in 2021. He is looking forward to receiving his Pastoral assignment from the North Alabama District in the near future.
George believes God’s mission for him is not only inside the established church but to go outside into the wider world to preach the gospel to those who may not have heard it before, mainly veterans.
