African American wrongful execution victim (1900-1945)
For the Doctors character, see Lena Baker (Doctors).
Lena Baker
Lena Baker's February 23, 1945 mugshot
Born
(1900-06-08)June 8, 1900
Cuthbert, Georgia, US
Died
March 5, 1945(1945-03-05) (aged 44)
Georgia State Prison, Reidsville, Georgia, U.S.
Cause of death
Execution by electrocution
Occupation
Maid
Criminal status
Executed (March 5, 1945; 79 years ago (1945-03-05))
Pardoned (August 16, 2005)
Children
3
Conviction(s)
Capital murder (posthumously pardoned)
Criminal penalty
Death
The Lena Baker headstone in Mt. Vernon Baptist Church cemetery, in Cuthbert, Georgia
Lena Baker (June 8, 1900 – March 5, 1945)[1] was an African American maid in Cuthbert, Georgia, United States, who was convicted of capital murder of a white man, Ernest Knight. She was executed by the state of Georgia in 1945.[2] Baker was the only woman in Georgia to be executed by electrocution.[3][2]
The execution came during a decades-long period of state suppression of civil rights of black citizens in white-dominated Georgia. The state had disenfranchised black people since the turn of the century, and imposed legal racial segregation and second-class status on them. At the time of the trial, a local newspaper reported that Baker was held as a "slave woman" by Knight, and that she shot him in self-defense during a struggle.[4]
In 2005, sixty years after her execution, the state of Georgia granted Baker a full and unconditional pardon. A biography was published about Baker in 2001, and it was adapted for the feature film The Lena Baker Story (2008), chronicling the events of her life, trial, and execution.
^"In Honor of Lena Baker (Posthumously)". Congressman Sanford Bishop. January 3, 2011. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
^ abCite error: The named reference guardian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Lohr, Kathy. "Ga. Woman Pardoned 60 Years After Her Execution". National Public Radio. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
^Cite error: The named reference phillips was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
LenaBaker (June 8, 1900 – March 5, 1945) was an African American maid in Cuthbert, Georgia, United States, who was convicted of capital murder of a white...
2019. Retrieved December 7, 2022. "LenaBaker Case". New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 13, 2022. "LenaBaker is Executed". African American Registry...
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happiness. God bless you." She was the first woman executed in Georgia since LenaBaker in 1945, as well as the only woman executed in the United States in 2015...
Frederick Terman, American electrical engineer, professor (d. 1982) June 8 – LenaBaker, African-American maid executed for capital murder, pardoned posthumously...
postandcourier.com. January 2022. Guest Commentary: Lela Bond Phillips, "The LenaBaker Story: Execution in a small town", The Black Commentator, May 2003, accessed...
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based on a real incident The LenaBaker Story (2008) – historical crime film chronicling the life and death of LenaBaker, an African-American woman in...
January 2020. "Doctors spoilers: Emma Reid gets KISSED by ex-girlfriend Lena!". What's on TV. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved...
him and Lena falling in battle against Reign. Another reality where Supergirl and Lena didn't meet as Mon-El as part of a resistance against Lena and her...
Republican (b. 1904) 1944 – Max Jacob, French poet and author (b. 1876) 1945 – LenaBaker, African American held captive post slavery-era (b. 1900) 1947 – Alfredo...
has appeared in the serial since 2012. She was in a relationship with LenaBaker (Josephine Butler) and Jasmine Dajani (Lara Sawalha). Sean Donoghue, portrayed...
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McDonald – Ruth Younger Phylicia Rashad – Lena Younger Sanaa Lathan – Beneatha Younger Bill Nunn – Bobo David Aaron Baker – Karl Lindner Lawrence Ballard – moving...
when it comes to her job. She is portrayed by Vanessa Ray. Eddie's mother, Lena Janko (Christine Ebersole), immigrated from Serbia and Eddie herself is fluent...
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