Alta Lee "Jack" Coker Baker, born in 1907, earned her degree in English from Howard College in 1927, a couple of years before the other stock market tumble.  While at Howard, she was involved in literary societies and the women's glee club.  She married and raised a family in Birmingham, leading an active live supporting home, church and community.   

 

Mrs. Baker continues to reside in Birmingham and, we believe she is Samford's oldest living graduate.  Her legacy continues at Samford through three great-grandchildren: Steve, a senior sports medicine major; Kendall, a junior family studies major; and Abby, a junior nursing major.   

 

At 101 years of age, she remains grateful for the Howard (and Samford) influence on her life, to the extent that—just a few months ago—she made her most recent gift to the Samford Auxiliary in support of scholarships for our students.   

 

The world is better because of Alta Lee Coker Baker. 

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.