Telling her story: The only woman ever to die in Georgia's electric chair

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Telling her story

COLQUITT, Ga. --- The only woman ever to die in Georgia's electric chair -- a victim of racial injustice -- is the focus of a movie that makes its world premiere at the 32nd annual Atlanta Film Festival.

"This is one I had to do first," said veteran actor Ralph Wilcox, 57, who wrote and directed The Lena Baker Story and produced it at a new 22,000 square-foot movie studio in rural southwestern Georgia.

"This film ... dealt with four issues that are really continuing today -- abuse, addiction, the death penalty and the fourth and foremost is our faith," Mr. Wilcox said. "It was her faith that gave Lena her courage and fortitude."

...

Baker's final words, shortly before her execution at the Reidsville State Penitentiary on March 5, 1945, were, "What I done, I did in self-defense. I have nothing against anyone ... I am ready to meet my God."

...

The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles granted her a pardon in 2005. It did not find her innocent of the crime, but ruled that the decision to deny her clemency in 1945 was a grievous error.

Chronicle Augustus