Evander Wayne Baker Jr.

Evander Wayne Baker Jr.

August 21, 2025

New Bern, North Carolina - Evander Wayne Baker Jr, 76, "Wayne" to his friends, originally from Ocean Drive, SC, and resident of New Bern, NC since 2014, passed away August 21, 2025, at Carolina East Medical Center in New Bern. He is preceded in death by his parents Wayne Sr and Vernell Baker of North Myrtle Beach, SC. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sylvia Smithwick Baker from New Bern. He is also survived by son Evander Wayne Baker III "Evan" and wife Margaret of Arlington, VA, son James Baker of Suffolk, VA, son William Baker of Charlotte, NC, daughter Mary Baker of Boone, NC, daughter Elizabeth Baker of Raleigh, NC, and 3 grandchildren: William Baker of Washington, NC, and Robert Baker and Jaime Baker of Arlington, VA. He is also survived by sister Reatha Baker Wilkins, niece Kristin Wilkins Kingsley, and 3 great nieces of Myrtle Beach, SC.

Graduated Wampee High School as Valedictorian 1967; graduated NC State University 1974 with Honors. Major areas of study were Landscape Architecture, Environmental Design, and Civil Engineering. Licensed in North and South Carolina.

Wayne always lived in Wake County or lowland eastern North or South Carolina. He loved being with his family, being near the ocean and coast, boating, landscaping for work or for pleasure, sports as an avid NC State Wolfpack fan, and history. He made a legendary downeast boil and loved shrimp, loved reading particularly history and science fiction and Star Wars, was active in his church, could regale you with Latin names and details on all manner of flora, and told stories of sports, boating, fishing, and inner workings of office politics.

In February 2010, he was inducted by the Governor into North Carolina's Order of the Longleaf Pine for his contributions in the City of Raleigh. All told, his 35 years of Construction Management projects totaled over $2 billion worth of construction, repairs, and improvements, and covered many areas of the City of Raleigh, including partnering with organizations such as Peace College, Saint Mary's, Meredith, NC Dept of Administration, NCDOT, NC Symphony, NC Fairgrounds, NCSU, Shaw University, Memorial Auditorium, and Civic Center.

Initially, he worked in private practice with several Raleigh area firms and established a firm in North Myrtle Beach, SC. In 1974 served as Assistant Planning Director opening the new Downtown Administrative offices of Town of Cary, NC before joining City of Raleigh Engineering Department in 1975 as Chief City Conservation and Floodplain Engineer. Subsequently moved to Public Works Department as a Public Works Administrator and Assistant Project Manager on 1984 City Hall and Municipal Parking Deck Complex projects. Appointed in 1985 as the City of Raleigh Construction Projects Administrator, serving until retirement in 2010. Numerous major projects including 1971 Civic Center additions and renovations, and it's subsequent demolition for construction of the 2008 Convention Center, and the Civic Plaza and Downtown Development Area and for a number of public and private joint developments; Multiple renovations and major additions to Raleigh's Memorial Auditorium including addition of the lobby with columns matching the original Indiana limestone of the main Auditorium, and renovated for major Broadway plays such as Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, etc; and in 1990's for the addition of Fletcher Opera Theater, Meymandi Concert Hall, Kennedy Theater and Rehearsal Hall; 7 major parking garages; downtown transit facilities; construction and/or renovations of various major City of Raleigh office buildings; 18 Fire Stations; all major Police Department and 911 Center Facilities; Public Works Department Facilities; Transportation Department facilities; managed various hurricane and tornado damaged repairs (Fran and others); numerous parks and recreation projects and repairs and renovations to water impoundments; roadway and urban pedestrian facility improvements throughout the downtown and university areas of the city. A project he mentioned as not getting to build was a professional baseball park, as the plans were developed, printed and ready to bid for relocating the Durham Bulls to Raleigh/Wake County.

Per Wayne's request, a private service will be held at a later date.

Condolences can be made at www.cottenfuneralhome.com on Wayne's online remembrance page.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Food Bank or other charity of your choice. A memorial bench will be placed in New Bern and a plaque at NC State in his memory.

Cotten Funeral Home is honored to serve the family and friends of Evander Wayne Baker, Jr.