Mrs. Ruth Marie Bailey

On Wednesday, September 17, 1930, the late Madison Clayton and Lilly Cole Clayton welcomed their first child into the world -a beautiful baby girl and they named her Ruth Marie. Ruth Marie confessed Christ at an early age and united with St. Mark United Methodist Church. In her adult life, Ruth Marie met and married Johnnie B. Bailey and unto this union, 13 children were born. The Bailey family joined Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, where she became known as Mother Bailey. Mother Bailey later moved her membership to Mt. Olive MB. Church in Lauderdale and ended her journey with Greater Outreach MB. Church under the leadership of Rev. Obediah Clemons. Mother Bailey se-rved in many capacities on various auxiliaries and se-rvedfaithfully until her health began to fail. Mother Bailey never met a stranger and opened her a,ms and home to anyone. She had a passion for cooking and was blessed to retire from Meridian Naval Air Station as the mqnager of the Galley after more than 20 years of service. On Saturday, Febrnary 26, 2022 at 7:00 a.m., Mother Bailey transitioned from labor to reward at Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. She was preceded in death by her parents, nine siblings, a son, Arthur Lee Bailey; one daughter-in-law, Lagunia Bailey, and two grandsons, Juan Vega and Charles Bailey, Jr. She leaves to cherish her memories seven daughters, Ru-iha Lee, Diane Cheathams, Dorothy Vega, Lillie Brewer (James Brown) and Ethel Ford, all of Bailey, Mississippi; Quine/I (Roger) Samuels of Richmond, Virginia and Irene Bailey of Chesapeake, Virginia; five sons, Johnny Bailey, Willie (Brenda) Bailey, and Joe Bailey (Demetric) of Meridian, Mississippi; Vernon (Ferrie) Bailey of Chandler, Arizona and Charles Bailey of Moss Point, Mississippi; one daughter-in-law, Minister Velma Bailey of Dekalb, Mississippi and a very special daughter, Janine (Mark) Hedgepeth of St. Louis, Missouri; four sisters, Alberta Burrage, Corine Wilburn, Bobbie Ricks, and Naomi (Charles) Rush all of Cleveland, Ohio; 47 grandchildren, 94 great grandchildren, 32 great great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, o-iher relatives, church members, and friends.

Mrs. Ruth Marie Bailey

September 17, 1930 - February 26, 2022