Thomas Gerald Baggs

Thomas Gerald Baggs, 79, recently of Brunswick but originally from Blackshear, died March 14, 2023.

Born in Townsend on January 1, 1944, he was the son of Ralph and Cleo Davis Baggs. He was pre-deceased by his parents, a special friend, Grant Whitfield, and siblings, Lawton Baggs, Emory Baggs, Marion Baggs, Stanford Baggs and Melba Baggs Walters.

Mr. Baggs was retired from the education profession, having worked in public schools in Georgia for some 47 years. Nearly 40 of those years were in the field of special education, where he worked first as a classroom teacher and later as an administrator of special education programs. He retired from the Thomaston-Upson school system, in which he worked for 38 years. His first teaching positions were with the Pickens County School system, where he taught kindergarten before moving into special education.

A 1962 graduate of Blackshear High School, he was a proud alumni of Young Harris College. He also earned degrees in the education field from Georgia Southern University, the University of West Georgia, and the University of Georgia.

Mr. Baggs’ entire adult life was spent in service to others. Prior to becoming employed as a teacher, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Brazil and was enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he trained as a medic and worked at the Walter Reed Army Hospital as a nurse.

Mr. Baggs loved to travel, often with friends and family. He made trips to Egypt, Brazil, England, Ireland, and Mexico as well as road trips across much of the United States and to Alaska. He admired things of beauty, whether it be fine art hanging in a museum or a colorful bird in his backyard. He enjoyed cooking for others, including playful experiments with food colors, and was a voracious reader, especially of Stephen King novels.

But more than anything, Mr. Baggs loved his family and interacted with siblings, nieces and nephews at every opportunity. He served as caretaker for some family members, mentor and counselor to others, and was always available to help in whatever manner was needed. He enjoyed genealogy and served as the family historian, having traced roots of the family tree back several generations. 

He is survived by sisters Joyce B. Waters of Brunswick, Glenda Fay Baggs of Blackshear, and Barbara (Doug) Maple of Cedar Key, Fla.; sisters-in-law, Sherleen Baggs of Newberry, Fla. and Yvonne Baggs of Brunswick.  A number of nieces and nephews also survive.

The family will host visitors at Pearson-Dial Funeral home on Thursday, March 16, from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be at the funeral home on Friday, March 17 at ­­­11 o’clock with Rev. Hampton Williams officiating and Mr. Norman Baggs, nephew, delivering the Eulogy.  Burial will be at 3 o’clock in the Baggs family cemetery in Ludowici.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com.

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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