The Rev. Dr. Baird passed away on February 15, in Memphis, TN. His funeral was February 18, at First Church, Memphis, TN with the Revs. Lisa Anderson, Hubert Morrow, Randy Leslie, Jim Smith, James Netters, Robert Prosser and Tommy Thompson officiating. Dr. Baird served as president of Memphis Theological Seminary from 1978 until his retirement in 1984. Prior to his presidency he taught Sociology of Religion from 1952-1984. Additionally, he served as pastor of the Mt. Carmel Church, Laconia, TN; and churches in Fairfield, IL; Sharon, TN; and Yorkville, TN. He was a consultant and interim pastor at the Presbyterian Church (USA), Cordova, and in other churches in the Mid-South and Indiana.

Dr. Baird held a bachelor's degree from Bethel College, a Master of Divinity degree from Memphis Theological Seminary and a doctorate from Princeton University. He served as an army chaplain in Burma, China and India during World War II. Along with other leaders from Memphis Theological Seminary, the Memphis Minister's Association and the medical community, Dr. Baird was a founder of the Memphis Institute of Medicine and Religion which was the first institute in Memphis to offer Clinical Pastoral Education.

He leaves his wife, Thalia Baird; five daughters, Sondra Roddy, Cynthia Bell, Laraine Mitchell, Linda Bennett and Ramona Martin; four sisters; five brothers and ten grandchildren. The family requests any memorials be sent to the E. Colvin and Thalia Buck Baird Endowment Fund at Memphis Theological Seminary.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, April 1997, page 6]