Jesse "Jay" T. Baucom Jr.

Jesse “Jay” T. Baucom, Jr. passed to his Heavenly home Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at Guardian Angels Personal Care Home #3 in Ellisville, Mississippi. He was born January 5, 1945 to Jesse and Merta Baucom in Birmingham, Alabama. Jay graduated from Shades Valley High School in Alabama where he was a drummer in the band. In picking a college to attend, Jay toured Belhaven College in Jackson, MS with his then girlfriend. While she decided to go elsewhere, Jay thought Belhaven was perfect for him. God had a hand in this decision, because that is where he met the love of his life and wife of 57 years, Sandra Jones Baucom. The couple were married November 7, 1965 and made their home in Laurel. Jay began a career in men’s clothing at the Laurel Sears, and eventually became a partner at Lawrence Men’s Wear in downtown Laurel. After several years there, he opened his own store, Jay’s Haberdashery in the North Laurel Shopping Center. After many years in men’s clothing, Jay made a career change and became an agent with Farm Bureau Insurance in Jasper County. He spent 28 years as a successful agent and often visited with his clients after discussing business. He was even known to sit on his clients’ front porch and sing old gospel hymns. In his later years, Jay spent time with the job of “Papa” spoiling grandkids and cheering for their many ball teams and marching bands at competitions. Jay was a member of the Covenant Quartet and traveled all around singing and spreading the gospel of Christ. The group traveled locally as well as in Alabama, Florida and Louisiana. A member of the church choir at Trinity Baptist Church, Jay became good friends with Bro. Joel C. “Jake” Murphy who was interim pastor there. When Bro. Jake began another interim position at Lawn Haven Baptist Church in Laurel, he contacted Jay and asked him to come fill in with him as interim minister of music. What was to be a temporary fill in position, became permanent. Jay served at Lawn Haven for 3 ½ years. He then took a bi-vocational minister of music position at Wildwood Baptist Church where he served for 14 years. Jay was officially ordained as a minister there March 27, 1994. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Sharon in his later years. Jay was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Merta Baucom, an infant sister, brother Tommy Baucom, father and mother-in-law Roy and Tressie Jones, brother and sister-in-law Johnny and Peggy Johnson. He is survived by his wife Sandra Jones Baucom, one son Greg Baucom (Stacey) of Purvis MS, one daughter Dee Walters (David) of Laurel, grandchildren Gracey and Cole Baucom of Purvis, Ashlee Johnson (Landon), Jacob Morgan all of Laurel, Kayla Walters of Purvis, MS, one great grandchild Sadie Johnson and another precious great grandchild on the way, a "favorite" sister-in-law Patsy Stringer of Laurel, and one sister Glenda Todd of Florida as well as many nieces and nephews. Jay’s family would like to thank the staff at St. Luke’s Home Health and Hospice as well as Vicente, Kim, Betty, Andi, and Francis at Guardian Angels Personal Care Home for the wonderful care they provided Jay, and the support and love they showed the family in his last weeks. Memory Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be Sunday, May 21, 2023 from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., with the funeral beginning at 3 p.m. at Memory Chapel with a small graveside service at Shady Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Randy Windham, Carter Sims, Brodie Myrick, Tony Johnson, Jacob Morgan and Cole Baucom. Honorary Pallbearers will be Bryan Jordan, Ricky Adams, John Cockrell, Ken Regan, and Shelton Culpepper. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Jay’s name to the First Baptist Church of Sharon Building Fund. To sign the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Jesse "Jay" T. Baucom Jr.

January 5, 1945 - May 16, 2023