John Ephraim Baldwin, age 81, of Atlanta and formerly St. Simons Island, GA passed away January 26, 2012.
He was born in Waycross, GA February 25, 1930. His family eventually settled on St. Simons Island, GA. John graduated from Glynn Academy High-school, Brunswick, GA in 1948 where he was voted “Best Looking” out of his senior class. He subsequently enlisted and served in the United States Navy aboard the destroyer USS Robert K. Huntington during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in July 1951. In December 1953 he married his first wife, Frances O’Brien with whom he had six children. After the Navy John turned his attention to professional ambitions and entered college as an Engineering major. He soon found his love of architecture and began interning in the industry while pursuing his degree. In 1960 he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. In the early 1960’s John returned to St. Simons and joined with fellow Tech graduate Lamar Webb to create the firm Webb & Baldwin. and then Baldwin Cheshire Architects. He served as President of the St. Simons Jaycees and the local zoning board. In 1966 he was selected for inclusion in the “Outstanding Young Men of America.” He was married to Carolyn DeAnne Barwick Baldwin October 7, 1972 with whom he had one daughter. After accepting Christ in 1974 John became an active member of Christian Renewal Church in Brunswick, GA. During this time he led many mission trips to Mexico to build churches. In the late 1970’s he worked abroad for Aramco International to design a city on the Persian Gulf. Upon his return to the states he moved to Atlanta, GA and formed Baldwin & Company Architects with his son M. Christopher Baldwin in the mid 1980’s. He soon became a member of Roswell Church of God where he served as a Deacon for several years. In the early 1990’s John founded JBA Architects which operated until his passing. He spent time living in both Blue Ridge, GA and Murphy, NC over the next 2 decades. During this time he joined World Harvest Church North where he served as an Elder and Head of the Benevolence Ministry for 7 years. John was blessed immeasurably in both his personal and professional lives. His architectural designs spanned almost 50 years including designs for the U.S. military, The Army Corps of Engineers, numerous commercial structures such as banks and office buildings, multiple churches and wide variety of single and multi-family residential projects. Few men have the opportunity to impact the lives and hearts of so many in such an honorable way with so much compassion. He was affectionately known by his friends as Mr. Love in his latter years. He was a man of deep conviction who strove to live what he believed and honor the Lord with his life. We his family who knew him so intimately and loved him so deeply choose to rise up to honor him and say that we are blessed to be his descendants.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Barney Doyle Baldwin Sr. and Lula Blanche O’Hagan Baldwin of Waycross, GA and St. Simons Island, GA; his in-laws Willis Curtis Barwick and DeAlvah Thigpen Barwick of St. Simons Island, GA formerly of Soperton, GA; his brother Barney Doyle Baldwin Jr. of St. Simons Island, GA.
He is survived by his first wife Frances O’Brien Glover of Atlanta, GA formerly of St. Simons Island, GA and children as follows: daughter Debbie Baldwin Martinez Brannam and son-in-law George Brannam of St. Simons Island, GA; son M. Christopher Baldwin and daughter-in-law Mary Baldwin of Marietta, GA; son Jeff Baldwin and daughter-in-law Lisa Baldwin of Marietta, GA; son Greg Baldwin of Atlanta, GA; daughter Teresa Baldwin Peeples and son-in-law Joe Peeples of Brunswick, GA; daughter Michelle Baldwin Lane and son-in-law Mark Lane of Marietta, GA. He is survived by his wife Carolyn Barwick Baldwin of Atlanta, GA formerly of St. Simons Island, GA and daughter Jennifer Baldwin Askew Peden and son-in-law Terry Glenn Peden, Sr. of Canton, GA.
Surving grandchildren include grandson Jeremiah Martinez of Atlanta, GA; grandson Ian Martinez of Atlanta, GA; grandson Jered Martinez of San Antonio, TX; grandson Jaq Baldwin and granddaughter-in-law Hannah Freeman Baldwin of Atlanta, GA; grandson Kenny Baldwin and granddaughter-in-law Lindsay Andre Baldwin of Atlanta, GA; grandson Adam Baldwin and granddaughter-in-law Lois Ra Baldwin of Atlanta, GA; grandson Gregory Baldwin of Marietta, GA; grandson Sean Baldwin of Marietta, GA; granddaughter Caitlyn Baldwin of Marietta, GA; granddaughter Anne Marie Peeples Jones and grandson-in-law Matt Jones of Brunswick, GA; granddaughter Erica Peeples of Brunswick, GA; granddaughter Stephanie Peeples of Brunswick, GA; granddaughter Rachel Peeples of Brunswick, GA; granddaughter Jessica Lane of Marietta, GA; granddaughter Shelby Lane of Marietta, GA; grandson Kendall Lane of Marietta, GA; granddaughter Caroline Askew of Canton, GA; granddaughter Emily Askew of Denver, CO; granddaughter Abigail Askew of Canton, GA; granddaughter Kathryn Askew of Denver, CO; grandson Sam Askew of Canton, GA; granddaughter Grace Askew of Canton, GA; grandson Terry Glenn Peden, Jr. of Canton, GA; grandson John Ephraim Peden of Canton, GA.
Surviving great-grandchildren include great-granddaughter Callie Jones of Brunswick, GA; great-grandson Grant Baldwin; great-granddaughter Bailey Baldwin.
Serving as Pall Bearers are his grandsons: Jeremiah Martinez, Ian Martinez, Jered Martinez, Jaq Baldwin, Kenny Baldwin, Adam Baldwin, Gregory Baldwin, Sean Baldwin, Kendall Lane, Sam Askew, Terry Glenn Peden, Jr., & John Ephraim Peden.
Serving as Honorary Pall Bearers are his friends: Richard McMinn, Gary Peterson, Jerry Lunsford, Terry Schmid, and Marvin Clark.
Funeral arrangements will be held at 10:00 AM February 3, 2012 Darby Funeral Home in Canton, GA. Interment to follow at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA.
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