Rev. Lloyd William Baird, Jr.

“And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” - Mark 16:15

The Reverend Lloyd William "Bill" Baird, Jr., 85, completed a life of faithful service to God, family, and community on Sunday evening, October 11, 2026, at Arbor Acres Retirement Community.

A native of Asheboro, North Carolina, Bill was born on August 26, 1941, to Lloyd William and Kate Smith Baird, both now deceased. He graduated from Asheboro High School in 1960, where he was a member of the undefeated 1958 Blue Comet State Championship football team. In 1962, he entered the United States Air Force and served four years as a K-9 Sentry Dog Handler and Dog Team Leader. He was honorably discharged in 1966 while stationed at Walker Air Force Base in Roswell, New Mexico.

Bill attended Guilford College, where he played football and graduated in 1970. After leaving Guilford, he served one year as Community Service Director with the Boy Scouts of America, General Green Council, Greensboro, NC.

Bill accepted Christ as his Savior on October 8, 1969, while attending a Bob Harrington crusade in Greensboro, North Carolina. Four days later, he preached his first sermon, beginning a lifetime of ministry that would shape the remainder of his life. For nine years, Bill traveled throughout the Eastern US as a Southern Baptist evangelist, preaching revivals and sharing his faith with thousands. His gift for connecting with people from all walks of life, coupled with a storyteller's instinct and a ready sense of humor, became hallmarks of his ministry.

A new chapter of ministry began in 1977 when Bill became chaplain of NASCAR Winston Cup Racing and founded the Chapel at the Tracks. For the next twelve years, he ministered to drivers, crew members, team owners, and their families, providing worship services and pastoral care. He found great joy in bringing the Gospel directly to the racing community and building lasting relationships along the way. Bill cherished the strong sense of fellowship that characterized the NASCAR family and was grateful to walk alongside its members in faith and friendship.

Following his evangelistic and chaplaincy ministries, Bill was licensed to preach in the United Methodist Church and served several appointments in both the North Carolina and Western North Carolina Conferences – Aurora UMC (Aurora, NC), St. Luke UMC (Burlington, NC), Pensacola/Bald Creek UMC (Burnsville, NC), Bethel/Stokesburg UMC (Rural Hall/Walnut Cove, NC), Germanton UMC (Germanton, NC) and St. Mark UMC (Germanton, NC). He served Battle Forest Friends Church (Greensboro, NC) for one year in 1993.

Bill is survived by his wife, Brenda Pruitt Baird, of Arbor Acres in Winston-Salem, NC; his daughter, Michele Baird Counter (husband, Jason), and three grandchildren; sister Nancy Baird Lednum; Brenda’s sons David Kirk Flowers (wife, Tanya) and Bradley Charles Flowers (wife, Amanda) and her six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Graveside services, with military honors, will be conducted 2:00 PM Friday, October 16, 2026 at Germanton United Methodist Church cemetery, 3622 NC Highway 65, Germanton, NC 27019. Rev. Patricia M. Dixon will officiate. The family will greet friends at the graveside following the service. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Germanton UMC.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” - John 5:24

(Hayworth-Miller Rural Hall Chapel)