SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — A community will gather to pay final respects Wednesday to a Nicholas County lawman killed on the job. Funeral services are set for 5 p.m. Wednesday afternoon at the Summersville Armory and Convention Center for Deputy Tom Baker.
Two pastors will eulogize the slain deputy, Pastor Alan Travis of the Restoration Fellowship in Mount Nebo, West Virginia and Pastor Aaron Evans of the Zoar Baptist Church in Kessler’s Cross Lanes, W.Va. Evans was Baker’s nephew and a former deputy sheriff who worked alongside Baker for many years. He admitted it has been a difficult week trying to balance the healing of the community and the healing of his family.
“In Matthew, it says, ‘Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I’ll give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I’m meek and lowly in heart and you’ll find rest for your soul.’ The only way I’m able to get through this is through prayer and absolutely leaning on God,” said Evans.
Evans said he is still contemplating what words he’ll be guided to offer at the funeral to provide comfort to a grief stricken community.
“God is a God of comfort. One of the names of God mentioned is Jehovah Shalom which is a God of Peace. The only way to eradicate any burden and any heaviness is to lay it on God because He’s the one who can give you the peace,” said Evans.
Baker is the second Nicholas County Deputy killed in the line of duty in recent years. The last one was Billy Giacomo who was killed on September 11, 2000. Baker was the officer who found Giacomo and according to Evans, the incident had a profound impact on him.
“Tom carried that burden for many years and he only started to find peace when he gave his life to God,” Evans shared.
At the time of his death, Baker was a deacon in his church and a highly respected member of the Nicholas County community.
“He was a very strong Christian man. He knew God and talked about God and all of His grace and goodness with all the deputies he worked with and people in the community. Tom was ready to go. Some of the only solace we can get from this is we know where Tom’s at,” he said.
Visitation will start at 1 p.m. Wednesday and the funeral at 5 p.m. Law enforcement from all over the state and many from out of state are expected to be on hand for the service.