John Baxter

John Wesley Baxter NORTHPORT| John Wesley Baxter, 11, died, Aug. 28, 2017 in Samantha. Cherished son to Johnny and Tara Baxter and precious little brother to Anna Kate, he was born on Oct. 5, 2005 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Funeral services will be Friday, September 1,2017 at 3:00 pm at Northport Church of Christ with burial to follow at Arbor Springs Baptist Church in Samantha. Visitation will be on Thursday August 31, 2017 at Northport Church of Christ from 6:00pm to 8:00pm and also one hour prior to service on Friday. He is survived by his parents, Johnny and Tara Baxter; his sister, Anna Kate; his grandparents, Brenda Baxter and Jim and Cindy Beams; his great grandfather, Pat Beams; his aunts and uncles, Jim and Cindy Baxter, Tammy and Doug Thomas, Tina and Jeremy Jones, and Clay and Laura Beams; his cousins Rachael and Michael Robert; Brad Davis and Jake Thomas; Allyson, Will, and Abigail Jones; and Isabelle, John Clay, Patton, and Warren Beams. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Ronnie Baxter. He loved him so. John Wesley loved to make people laugh. He recently wrote for a school paper, "I am special because I am funny. I make a lot of my friends laugh. I also have lots of friends because I am funny. That is how I am special. I am funny."� And he was. His desire to make people laugh was born out of a kind and sensitive heart. He was an includer, always looking to bring kids into the fun. He was silly, curious, adventurous, and smart. John Wesley was a peacemaker. If there was conflict, he looked for a way to smooth it out and lighten the moment. A helper, John Wesley loved learning from and working with his daddy even when it was weed-eating or cutting grass. He loved the outdoors, hunting, and fishing. He also loved music and often sat on top of the mailbox listening to his headphones while waiting for the bus. John Wesley loved his family, his church, cartoons, animals, cutting up with his friends, hunting with his daddy, snuggling with his mommy, loving his big sister, and fishing and playing in the lake. He recently started sixth grade at Northside Middle School, was in the honor society, and played football with the Northside Toy Bowl League and Lightning Basketball. He attended Northport Church of Christ since birth and was baptized this summer. Pallbearers are Jim Baxter, Clay Beams, Jeremy Jones, Doug Thomas, Brad Davis and Sawyer Richardson. Honorary pallbearers include the Northside community, John Wesley's classmates and friends, Northport Church of Christ, and numerous neighbors, coworkers, and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to Indian Creek Youth Camp, 7855 Pleasantfield Rd., Oakman, AL 35579.