Willie James Bailey

Our beloved, Willie James Bailey, was born on September 5, 1949, in Moore County, NC.  He departed this life on Sunday, November 26, 2023, in Plum Point, VA.  He was preceded in death by his mother Eula Mae Bailey, father Emmett Thorpe, daughter Sibylla Bailey, and sister Geraldine Thorpe. 

When Willie was five years old, he moved to Plum Point, VA to live with his uncle and aunt, Fred and Patty Johnson.  He was educated in the New Kent County Public Schools.  After high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps.  He retired from Newport News Shipbuilding, where he was a shipfitter and served as a union representative.

At an early age, Willie joined Saint Paul Episcopal Church in West Point, VA, and served in various positions.  He is currently a member of Saint Luke Baptist Church in Plum Point, VA.

Willie married the former Doris Jones on November 27, 1971.

Willie loved everyone.  He loved hosting his family and friends.  One thing you knew for sure, when it came to his house, there was going to be food, music, and laughter.  He loved going out on his boat for hours fishing and then coming home to have the neighborhood join him in cleaning the fish.  He took great pride in meticulously caring for his lawn. 

In 2015, Willie’s love reached a new high when he welcomed his first and only granddaughter, McKenzie Marie Bailey Moaland, whom he affectionately named “Suga Meat”.  Although they lived in Maryland, Willie and Doris stayed there all week to help care for her by taking and picking her up from school, and then they returned home on weekends until his health failed. 

He leaves to cherish his precious memories, his wife of fifty-two years, Doris Jones Bailey; daughter, Kristen Bailey Hartwell of Brandywine, Maryland; granddaughter, McKenzie Marie Bailey Moaland; sisters, Diane Gresham and Levera Garner; sisters-in-law, Elsie Lewis, Mary Saunders, Marian Brown, Virginia Braxton (Alvin), Jean Jones, Helen Bowman; brothers-in-law Samuel T. Jones, Jr., and Willie Jones (Coloris); godchildren Tomia and Kahlid McGee, and Terrell Braxton; special cousins, Mattie Middleton of Baltimore, MD and Earl Bailey of Fayetteville, NC; he held a fond and close relationship with his nieces and nephews; and many other cousins, and caring and loving friends.

A funeral service will be held at Noon on Monday, December 4, 2023, at Bethel Restoration Center with a viewing beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Interment with Military Honors to follow in St. Luke Baptist Church Cemetery.

Professional services entrusted to the staff of Whiting's Funeral Home, 7005 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, Virginia 2385. 757-229-3011 whitingsfuneralhome.com

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