James F. Bailey

Former Financial News & Daily Record Publisher James Franklin Bailey Sr., known affectionately as “Papa” to his devoted and beloved family, died Friday at the age of 85. Mr. Bailey, born Sept. 10, 1924, passed away at the Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring at Community Hospice of Northeast Florida. He was a take-charge man who sought perfection in everything he undertook. He gave generously of his time and talents to every organization he was involved in and was a loyal and devoted friend to many. He was born to Evelena Maude South and Andrew Virgil Bailey in the Red Hill community near Carnesville, Ga., where he grew up. He was the third of four children and grew up with two sisters

and one brother. Mr. Bailey married the former Doris McManus of Jacksonville in 1940 and they raised three children, Kay, Patsy and James Jr. He is survived by his wife and children and their spouses along with 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and two sisters. Survivors include Kay Bailey West and her husband, Wayne J. West, of Byromville, Ga., and their children, Deidra Smith (Taylor) and Erin Kovacs (Wade); Patsy Bailey Provine of Miramar Beach, and her children Scott Work, Natalie Work and Bailey Provine; and Jim Bailey and his wife, Donna Rowe Bailey, of Jacksonville, and their children, Christina Kimmel (Sean), Melissa Cheezum (Kevin), Jennifer Bailey, Jessica Bailey, Casey Bailey and Emily Bailey. He also is survived by his sisters, Margaret Bailey Conwell of Anderson, SC. and Mary Nell Bailey Whiten of Royston, GA. He was predeceased by his brother, John.

Mr. Bailey attended Franklin County High School Carnesville GA and graduated from Piedmont College in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He served in the U.S. Navy and briefly taught chemistry in Whitehouse and also worked as a pharmaceutical rep before becoming publisher of the Financial News and Daily Record, which was founded by his father-in-law John Hall McManus in 1912. He served as president of the Kiwanis Club of Jacksonville as well as president of the American Court and Commercial Newspapers. He received the Liberty Bell award from the Jacksonville Bar Association in 1972.He was devoted to his wife and his family. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed boating, woodworking, beekeeping and travel. He was a loyal and devoted friend to many and was a strong supporter of Downtown and of Jacksonville's business community until his retirement in the late seventies.

One would rarely see him without 'Mimi,' his wife of 61 years, even on the golf course. He loved to travel, especially with his grandchildren. He especially enjoyed his summers spent at the Wolf Laurel Country Club, in Mars Hill, N.C. of which he was a founding member. Visitation will be on Tuesday, August 24, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at HARDAGE-GIDDENS FUNERAL HOME, 4115 Hendricks Avenue. Mr. Bailey’s life will be celebrated with a memorial service on Wednesday, August 25, at 10:00 a.m. at the Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home Chapel, 4115 Hendricks Avenue, Pastor Kyle Reese of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church, will officiate. Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in the name of James F. Bailey, Sr. to the Earl Hadlow Community Hospice Center on Sunbeam Road. Personal condolences may be shared at www.hardage-giddenshendricksave.com.