Samuel D. Bailey

On Sunday, June 25, 2017, Samuel D. Bailey transitioned from his earthly body to his eternal rest at 7 a.m. at Maplewood Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. His death was a result from a battle with Alzheimers. He was 82 years of age.

Sam was born on February 17, 1935 and grew up in the Life Community of Henderson County just outside of Lexington, TN. He was the eleventh child of James Roy Bailey and Annie Hughes Bailey. He graduated from Lexington High School, where he lettered in football for three years. He left Lexington to work in Memphis, TN first as a butcher for Kroger, then ten years on the Memphis Police Department, followed by twenty years with Greyhound Lines East, where he was both a coach operator and driving instructor.

He was a young widower with two small girls, Amanda and Elizabeth, when he married Jessalyn Irvin of Jackson, TN. Sam and Jessalyn were married on March 19, 1965, and were in their 53rd year of marriage. They moved to Jackson, TN in March of 1988, where his wife still resides.

Until his health started deteriorating, he was an active member of Woodland Baptist Church for 29 years where he served on the Bus and Security ministry committees. He was also totally engaged in Tom Mapes’ Sunday School Class which he treasured.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters, and five brothers.

He is survived by his wife, Jessalyn Bailey; two daughters, four grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, one brother, numerous nieces and nephews, and his wife’s sister, Charlotte Van den Bosch who assisted with care for years. He is also survived by his precious little dogs, Mitzi and Maggie.

A celebration of life service will be held at the North Chapel of George A. Smith and Sons on Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at 2 p.m. with burial following at Highland Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from Noon until service time at 2 p.m. Rev. Len Kennedy of Woodland Baptist Church and Minister Tom Mapes will conduct Sam’s service. Music will be by Gaye Kennedy.

Pallbearers will be Bill Van den Bosch, Jr., Jacob Brady, Ron Goetz, Mike Attaway, Timothy Kennedy, and Stephen Kennedy. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim and Anna Griffith.

Sam’s wife Jessalyn expresses her gratitude to the staff of caregivers Sam had at Maplewood and Elmcroft for their Alzheimer’s Care. She requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to Birth Choice or Youth Town of Jackson. She also expresses her gratitude to their friends who assisted during this difficult journey. Sam is now at peace and his struggles are over.