Anne Hardin Bailey

Anne Hardin Bailey, 96, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on October 15, 2026, at The Jefferson in Arlington, Virginia.

Born to Herman and Marie (Childress) Hardin on June 8, 1930, in Richmond, Virginia, Anne was the eldest child in a vibrant extended family, surrounded by 9 aunts and uncles on her mother’s side and 6 on her father’s. A naturally bright student voted “most intellectual girl,” she graduated as valedictorian from John Marshall High School in 1947. Continuing her education as the first in her family to attend college, she earned a degree in Biology from Westhampton College (University of Richmond) in 1951. Her high school and college yearbooks capture a young woman of remarkable poise, leadership, and achievement.

It was on a double date that she met the love of her life, Ben Bailey, then a cadet at The Citadel in South Carolina who went on to a distinguished career as an Air Force officer. They were married on June 21, 1952. Anne was the heart and steadfast anchor of their family through every relocation and new venture—thoughtfully placing their “early American military” furniture in each new home and embracing the local culture of every post. Her eldest daughter was born in California and her younger daughter in Maine, with subsequent postings bringing the family to Oxfordshire, England, as well as Massachusetts, Maryland, Charleston, South Carolina, and Ohio. With grace and resilience, she served as a devoted single parent during Ben’s deployments to Morocco and Vietnam.

A woman of devout faith, Anne and Ben were active and dedicated members of local churches wherever they lived, including almost 30 years as members of Williamsburg Baptist Church. After moving to The Jefferson, Anne became a member of Mount Olivet United Methodist Church. Anne gave generously of her time and talents to numerous charitable endeavors, including the Red Cross, Girl Scouts, and Reston Interfaith, where she served as treasurer. In her later years at The Jefferson, she brought warmth and community spirit as chair of the Hallway Committee and as a welcoming presence on the new resident greeting committee.

Anne leaves behind a rich heritage of creativity and craftsmanship. A gifted seamstress, she crafted exquisitely smocked dresses, handcrafted Christmas ornaments, and blessed her family with beautifully knitted blankets, delicate cross-stitch artwork, and crocheted pillows. She was also a talented writer with a sly sense of humor, frequently adapting stories from her journals into short pieces for The Jefferson’s publication, the Quill.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Benjamin H. Bailey, Jr., USAF., and remained close to his family for the rest of her life.

She is survived by her daughters, Lynn (Rich) Saxton of Warsaw, NY, and Elizabeth (Greg) Bramham of Arlington, VA; her grandchildren, Laura (Will) Gardner of Fairhaven, MA, Melissa (Sean Murphy) English of Washington, D.C., and Henry (Hana Arai) Bramham, also of Washington, D.C.; and her great-grandchildren, Miles Gardner, Lena Gardner, and Sydney Murphy. She is also survived by her brother, Herman C. Hardin, Jr. of Richmond, Va. The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to her devoted caregiver and friend, Flor Burdick, along with the staff at The Jefferson, for their gentle and compassionate care.

A memorial service honoring Anne’s life will be held at The Jefferson on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. She will be laid to rest alongside her husband in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church (1500 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA 22207), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the American Cancer Society, or a charitable organization of your choice in lieu of flowers.