Catherine Haggerty Baker, often known as "Kay" passed away peacefully on May 11, 2017 in Port St. Lucie, FL with family at her side. Although she lived in several cities in Florida late in life, including Pensacola, Vero Beach, and Port St. Lucie -- she was born in Brookhaven, raised in Meridian, and lived the majority of her life in Jackson.

A dual sociology/history graduate from St. Mary's Dominican College in New Orleans, she was a lifelong learner and student of the human condition. After graduation she returned to Jackson where she and her husband participated in a variety of social justice efforts. After their house was bombed by the Ku Klux
Klan, she and her family moved to Baltimore, MD and then Washington, DC, where they continued their work.

Throughout her life she worked in jobs that allowed her to help people and contribute to society. From starting out as a staff writer with the Jackson Daily News to becoming the first woman Human Resource Director at
a major Mississippi hospital, she never hesitated to blaze a new trail for herself and for other women. Throughout her professional life, the thread that was always present was contributing to society by trying to help real people, in concrete ways, working at a very personal level. Early in life she worked with the Mississippi Association for Mental Health and later in life worked with various human services organizations such as the Jewish Federation, Volunteers of America and Project Response.

Kay is survived by her brother Michael Haggerty; two children, Chris Kochtitzky and Michele Cracchiola; Michele's husband, Joe Cracchiola; and two grandchildren, Gavin and Kenzie. A celebration of her life is planned for July 22nd in New Orleans, LA at St. Andrews Episcopal Church. For those wanting to make memorial gifts, the family is asking that donations be made in Kay's name to any of the following:
the local American Lung Association chapter, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, or your local Hospice House. Most of all, however, the family wishes to encourage anyone who wants to honor Kay to consider donating their time to a local cause that serves the needs of those who have been less fortunate.