Virginia Pearl Darland "Green" Baker

Funeral Services for Virginia Pearl Darland Baker (Green), 94, of Lufkin, Texas, will be held Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Shafer Funeral Home, with Mr. Martin Baker officiating. Graveside Services will be held Saturday, February 7, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Denver City Memorial Cemetery, Denver City, Texas.

Mrs. Green was born on June 3, 1931, in Posey, Texas, on the Johnson Farms home place, to the late Jess and Edna Darland, and passed away on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

She grew up moving around the Lubbock, Texas area before settling in Morton, Texas. Her father was a carpenter and moved the family to Arizona when he was employed to help build the Fort Huachuca Army base. Finally, they moved to Blythe, California.

Virginia attended the Baptist Church and went to church camp where she asked Jesus into her life. One summer, at the age of 16, she traveled back to Morton to visit her cousin, Marvie Ann. During that visit, she met the love of her life, Odell Baker. They wrote to each other often, and he hitchhiked all the way to Blythe for her high school graduation in May 1950.

She turned 19, on June the 3rd of that year, and they married on June 6, 1950. Their first home was in Whiteface, Texas, followed by a move to Denver City, Texas, where they made their home for over 50 years. She was a stay-at-home mom for their children, Martin, Phyllis, and Susan. However, Virginia held occasional office jobs at different businesses around town including Atlantic Richfield Oil, Co., Secretaries On Vacation, and she also delivered the Odessa American newspaper every morning.

Virginia was a very active community member; she was a member of the Jayceettes, and a charter member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. She was a proud Cub Scouts Den Mother and an active member of the First Baptist Church.

In 1971, she and Odell acquired Yoakum County Answering Service. For several years, she was the only daytime operator, while Odell would take the night shift. As her children grew up and the answering service became successful, she began to pursue more of what God wanted of her life. She became a Sunday school teacher at First Baptist, a VISTA volunteer, helping Susan run Operation Blessing, and she also answered phones for the 700 Club's Prayer Center. She financially and physically supported GODTEL Ministries, Van Burkes Good News Ministry, attended seminars and meetings of several evangelists, and she and Odell hosted Bible studies in their home. She was especially happy to have traveled to Israel.

When Odell passed in 2003, she sold the answering service and moved to Llano, Texas to be close to her daughter, Susan. She traveled back to Blythe for a class reunion, where she became reacquainted with classmate, Jim Green. They corresponded and eventually married in 2006. They moved to Lufkin, Texas to be near her son, Martin (DIL), Mary, and daughter, Phyllis. When Jim passed away in 2022, Virginia moved into an apartment connected to Martin's home where she lived to the age of 94. She always said her greatest accomplishment was loving the Lord, her children, grandchildren, and greatgrands.

Virginia is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Martin and Mary of Lufkin; daughter Phyllis of Lufkin; daughter and son-in-law, Susan and John of Kingsland; seven grandchildren, Jenna, Paul, Bryant, Amanda, Faith, Bonnie and Elysha; 15 greatgrands; in-laws; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded by her newborn son, Richard; parents, Jess and Edna; brothers, Shug and Gene; husband, Odell; in-laws, the Bakers, W.G., Reba, Max, Nell, Ruth, and Gerald; Janice and Bobbie Darland; 2nd husband, Jim; and several nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers will be Paul Baker, Bryant Hester, Christopher Castaneda, Jason Jessee, Jono Lacy, and John Jones.

Special memorials may be made to Godtel Ministries,Lufkin, Texas at https://www.godtel.org/support.html .

Visitation will be held Wednesday, February 4, 2026, from 10:00 to 11:00 am at Shafer Funeral Home.

Shafer Funeral Home, Lufkin directors.