Krista Lynn Baldwin

Krista Lynn Baldwin passed away on May 9, 2020 at her home in Atlanta surrounded by family.

Krista was born on February 8, 1965 to Dora Jean and Thomas Shank. She graduated from Fort Frye High School in 1983 and from Kent State University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interior Design.

Krista moved to Atlanta not long after graduating from college, and met her husband of 29 years, Tom Baldwin. Soon after her arrival, Krista started work with Charles Ray as a selling designer for the Norwalk Furniture Stores before her employment as manager of Charles Ray and Associates, Inc., AmericasMart, for over 16 years. Her unique leadership and dynamic personality were the framework of her success throughout the furniture industry and in the Charles Ray showroom.

Krista was beautiful both inside and out, and loved to surround herself by beauty, whether it was within her home, nature, or from the people with whom she spent time. She was a loving, giving, and supportive wife and mother and extended that love and support to her many friends and members of her community. Combining her love of swimming and diving, her children and her community, Krista partnered with a fellow neighbor to create the Inman Park Belugas Swim Club. She helped run this organization for years, managing finances and memberships, practices and swim meets. She also organized numerous fundraisers centered around her love of music and some of the great talent in her neighborhood. In 2013, Krista received the Joel Award, given annually by the Inman Park Neighborhood Association for extraordinary contributions to the neighborhood. All of this was part of Krista’s nature. One close friend said it well describing her as a true force; a catalyst for so many get togethers and events; the social glue for so many; inspiring with her positivity and strength under any circumstances. These qualities were shown in her cancer journey during which she was a model of courage and positive attitude. She regularly brought food and snacks to medical staff tending to her chemotherapy. Her social media posts about her journey were described by many as inspiring. Krista believed in living each day to the fullest, and she never let her cancer battle slow her down. She deeply loved her family and friends and treasured every moment spent together.

Krista was preceded in death by her father, Thomas Shank, her mother Dora Jean Shank, sister Lisa Merriman and nephew B. Dean Frye, Jr. She will be dearly missed by her family: her husband, Thomas Baldwin, children Lily Anne Baldwin and Jonathan Baldwin, sister DeAnna Frye (Dean), brothers Thomas L. Shank II and Brett Shank, nephews John Merriman, Samuel Merriman, Stefen Frye, Brenden Frye, Justin Frye, Christian Shank, and nieces Natasha Shank and Hydia Farnsworth (Andy), uncle Jon Coffman (Millie), cousins Wendy Funderburk (Chuck) and Tracey Rowsey (Jerry), brother in law Doug Merriman, brother in law Roy Baldwin, sisters in law Evelyn Baldwin and Mary Anne Fagyas (Frank).

A private outdoor memorial service with immediate family and friends will be held on May 17th.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to one or both of the following organizations: Breast Cancer Research Foundation (https://www.bcrf.org/) and Lost-n-Found Youth (https://www.lnfy.org/).