Jessica A Baggett

Jessica S. Baggett, Esq. sunrise was March 31, 1966, and her sunset was January 15, 2024. Jessica was the managing attorney of The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland in Lorain County. She practiced law for 30 years in Ohio and has served as a managing attorney at Legal Aid since 2007. Prior to that, she was a magistrate in Lorain County Domestic Relations Court Juvenile Division, and a staff attorney at Southeastern Ohio Legal Services. She also served as the President of the Lorain County Bar Association in 2022. Jessica was a devoted and committed member of the Full Gospel Faith Fellowship Church.

Jessica is survived by her son, David Baggett; sisters, Alicia Baggett and Sophie Bray; brothers, Charles Baggett and Derry Baggett; nieces, Arcina Madison, Chaqela Coleman, and Ashley Baggett; nephew, David Baggett; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins; and many friends.

Jessica was preceded in death by her son, Garrett Carter, and parents, Charles and Jean Baggett.

Visitation will be at the Full Gospel Faith Fellowship Church, 700 Gulf Rd., Elyria on Saturday, January 27 beginning at 10am with the family receiving friends from 11am until noon at which time the funeral service will begin.

There will be a repast immediately following the service.

Reichlin Roberts Bollinger Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family.

Below is more information that Jessica's family and colleagues would like to share:

Jessica joined the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland as Managing Attorney of its Elyria Office March 30, 2007. Jessica started her career as a staff attorney at Southeast Ohio Legal Services, and often said that in 2002, she came home to Legal Aid. As Managing Attorney of the Elyria Office, Jessica built the organization’s presence and reputation in Lorain County. Her vision was to forge enduring partnership. Earning the respect of Lorain County partners, Jessica was elected to become president of the Lorain County Bar Association in 2022. Jessica was also a member of the Family Law Practice Group and represented hundreds of domestic violence survivors secure safety, custody, and economic independence. As a member of Legal Aid’s Management Team, Jessica shared her vision, dedication, and wisdom with the entire organization. Her unwavering focus on clients and her vision of a just community influenced Legal Aid policy, strategy, and priorities, again and again,

Board Memberships and Other Leadership

Elyria Fair Housing -in the middle of serving her second five-year terms.

Blessing House, a children’s crisis care center for children birth through 12 whose parents or caregivers are facing a crisis or emergency or who are experiencing a high level of stress that might put their children at risk of abuse or neglect.

Appointed to the Executive Committee of the Lorain County Bar Association and Foundation, and served as President (2022-2023), Vice-President (2021-2022), and Treasurer (2020-2021) of the Lorain County Bar.

Had a six-year term on the Board of the Red Cross.

Served as the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s representative to Ohio legal aid’s statewide Racial Justice Institute.

Member of Lorain County’s Domestic Violence Task Force.

Engagement with and Love of her Community

Helped develop and promote Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s community clinic initiative, which resulted in a partnership with Oberlin Community Services to offer monthly legal advice clinics to their clients at their facility.

Her partnership with El Centro resulted in the coordination of brief advice legal clinics in Lorain County with a specific focus on limited English proficient residents, and helped secure volunteer attorneys for these events that enabled residents have their legal questions answered.

Has participated in various community event, such as “Do the Right Thing” and helped pass out school supplies to students.

Leveraged partnerships in service to a community that fully embraced her and whom she loved in return with the Lorain County United Way, Lorain County NAACP, Urban League, Lorain County Office on Aging, Lorain Health and Dentistry, LCCC Wellington, LCCC Elyria, Neighborhood Housing Association-homeless shelter, various churches, and other community organizations in an effort to form new alliances and expand Legal Aid’s ability to reach as many clients as possible. Always wanted to better the lives of the people in her community through her work.

Lifting Women’s Voices

A presenter at the Lorain County YWCA’s Why Not Talk forum speaking on gender, race and how minorities are treated in the legal profession.

Represented survivors of domestic violence in civil protection order, divorce and custody proceedings and in child support matters.

Community Activism

Participation on Lorain County Reentry Coalition and, participating on its Citizens’ Circle Group, sought to effect positive systemic change for this population.

She co-authored an op-ed in the Lorain Morning Journal about tenants' rights and Bruce Towers (09172021). She believed in educating the community and providing them to tools to protect their rights.

Before Joining the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

She practiced law for 30 years in Ohio. Prior to joining The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland in 2007 Jessica was a child support and juvenile detention magistrate for the Lorain County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division. She also taught at Lorain County Community College.

Supportive and Caring Colleague

Especially towards the staff in Legal Aid’s Elyria office, the Family Practice, and Management Team. Jessica was encouraging and supportive of staff in the Elyria office to do their best work. She was able to connect colleagues on a personal level. The relationship was such that they looked out for each other. She always asked about people’s family and expressed genuine concern about whatever what was going on in other people’s lives. You felt like the most important person in the world whenever you were talking to Jessica. Warm, positive, and friendly.

Jessica own words:

The morale of one’s staff is something that must be acknowledged and nurtured. If staff believes that management is receptive to their ideas and encourages expression and growth, they are more likely to enjoy their jobs and what they do.”

Recognition/Award

2016 Women of Achievement Award Recipient-Elyria YWCA

Jessica Baggett was a devoted and committed member of the Full Gospel Faith Fellowship

Church. As a trustee, her legal expertise, helped to guide the church in expanding their community outreach by helping to host Legal Aid clinics, parent meetings and financial assistance for FGFF Rapha International Center, a non-profit community service organization and Rapha Academy Fresh Start Childcare Center. Jessica’s passion for empowering those who are underserved helped to provide programs that advocated and provided resources for those who had no voice.

As her pastors, we saw her work tirelessly to help bring joy to others. She was a giver that even in her weakness she brought strength to others. Our community is better because of the life she lived. Her persistence, resilience, her love for Jesus and the kingdom of God will forever be in our hearts. She will be missed. Pastors Richard and Gwendolyn Gilmor