Roper Funeral Home and Crematory 206 Holly St Jasper, GA 30143 (706) 253-7500 (706) 253-0040 www.roperfuneralhome.com David Lawton Baggs, 88, of Jasper died February 5, 2023, after an extended illness. Born in Blackshear, Georgia, in 1934, he was the son of Ralph and Cleo Baggs and the eldest of nine children. He was pre-deceased by his parents, his wife Maxine Baggs, to whom he was married for 56 years, and siblings, Emory Baggs, Marion Baggs, Stanford Baggs and Melba Baggs Walters. As a youngster, Mr. Baggs lived in McIntosh, Liberty, Wayne and Pierce counties. After spending his youth working on farms and in tobacco fields, he graduated from Blackshear High School and attended Young Harris College, from which he earned a teaching degree. He would later earn multiple advanced graduate degrees in education from the University of Georgia. After graduating from Young Harris, Mr. Baggs began a career in public education that spanned 50 years and included working as both a classroom teacher and a school administrator. He worked in school systems in Pierce, Lumpkin, Forsyth, Pickens and Cherokee counties. He was a former principal of Pickens High School and a former Cherokee County Teacher of the Year. He was instrumental in developing one of the early career education curriculums for the state in the late 1960s and was among the first group of teachers for P.E.C.E (Program for Educational Career Exploration). His career in education touched the lives of thousands of people. Mr. Baggs moved to the Pickens County area in 1973 and became active in many community events and worthy causes. He was an ardent supporter of the Marble Valley Friends and was honored with induction into that group's Hall of Fame in 2017. He was active in the Jasper Lions Club for many years, and was one of the founding members of the Pickens County Service Club. He was an active member of the Tater Patch players for several years, and once wrote a play about the founding of Ball Ground which was performed as part of a historic celebration. He also served as a member of the county's library board. And on more than one occasion he entertained those in attendance at Jasper's annual Christmas celebration by reading "T'was the Night Before Christmas" to the crowd. A passionate believer in volunteering, he helped raise money for dozens of worthy causes, sold thousands of charity raffle tickets, manned concession stands, volunteered for traffic control, helped at food pantries, sold and delivered onions, collected used eyeglasses, worked with youth groups, and gave of his time in dozens of additional ways for the betterment of the community. He served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher and Benevolence Committee member at Cool Springs Church. He loved to feed people, and often was found directing the efforts of those cooking for fundraising efforts, as well as hosting an annual community barbecue at his home for more than 40 years in conjunction with neighbor Ed Stephens. More than anything, he relished time spent with family, from huge family reunions to simple "Sunday lunches with Pa," he savored every minute spent with those he loved. He is survived by sons, Norman (Brennice) Baggs of Sugar Hill, and Kenton (Stephanie) Baggs of Jasper; a brother, Gerald Baggs of Brunswick; sisters, Joyce Waters of Brunswick, Glenda Baggs of Blackshear, and Barbara (Doug) Maple of Cedar Key, Florida; mother-in-law, Marie D. Holt of Ellijay; grandchildren, Thor Baggs, Karina Haney, Alexa Baggs of Jasper; step-grandchildren, Jamie Hall of Jersey, Cansey Cash Contreras of Flowery Branch; great-grandchildren, Cydney Haney of Jasper, TK Haney of Jasper, Kasey Jackson of Sugar Hill, Hannah Cash of Sugar Hill, Lucia Cash of Sugar Hill; great-great-grandchildren, Kennedy Jackson of Sugar Hill and Conrad Jackson of Sugar Hill. Sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law also survive. The family will host visitors at Roper Funeral Home in Jasper on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Services will be at the funeral home on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Marble Valley Friends or Cool Springs Baptist Church in Tate. Arrangements are entrusted to the Staff of Roper Funeral Home and Crematory.