AREA OBITUARIES -- JOAN MCCOLLUM BAIRD

Joan McCollum Baird, 95, of Pensacola, Fla. passed away Friday, March 21, 2025, at home.

She was born on Jan. 25, 1930, in Fulton, Ky. to the late Clay and Edra Earl McCollum. Joan graduated from Fulton High School followed by attendance at Bethel Women’s College, in Hopkinsville, Ky.

She was married to Capt. Daniel M. Baird DDS, USN, (Ret.) from 1949 to 1975. As a Navy wife, she moved her family often to include Pensacola twice and Naples, Italy. Following her marriage, she moved back to Pensacola and began a 25+ year career in real estate. Characteristic of her generation, she was an American patriot.

She is survived by two sons, Stephen (Connie) Baird, of Tampa Fla., and Daniel (Kim) Baird, II., of Pensacola, Fla.; three grandchildren, Stephanie (Emmerson) Catlyn, of Springhill, Fla., Alison (Robert) Williams, of Canyon Lake, Calif., and Daniel Baird III, of Memphis, Tenn.; and two great-grandchildren, Wyatt and Eli Williams, of Canyon Lake Calif.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother, Wallace McCollum, of Knoxville, Tenn.

Visitation will be held at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel in Pensacola from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2025, with burial to follow at Bayview Memorial Park, with Rev. Mike Mashburn serving as Officiant.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.