Wilbur Randolph Bailey

Staff Sergeant Wilbur Randolph Bailey was born the second son to the late Joe and Katie Bailey on March 27, 1935 in Butts County, Georgia. He was educated in the Griffin Spalding School System graduating from Fairmont High School in 1955. While in high school he lettered in three sports, football, basketball and track. He joined St. Stephens Episcopal Church at a very early age. He started his mission in life by joining the United States Army and completing three tours of duty in Vietnam, one in Korea and several in Germany. While in the military, he served as a medic and saved many soldiers’ lives. He was also a paratrooper of the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After serving for 24 years in the military he then worked for K-mart Distribution Center in Newnan, Georgia for 14 years. After retiring from K-mart, he began his civic duties on the Spalding County Parks and Recreation Advisory board. He received the Volunteer Award from the Georgia Recreation and Park Association, Inc. on November 4, 2004. He was a member of the Vaughn Blake VFW Post 8480. He also served on the Parent Advisory Council. He was an avid sports fan, especially for the Griffin Bears. He had one son to precede him in death, Keith Powell, of Lumberton, North Carolina; two brothers to precede him in death, Joe C. Bailey and James Bailey; two sisters to precede him in death, Katherine Bailey and Arlene Bailey. Mr. Bailey leaves to cherish his memories his loving and devoted wife; Helen, of 47 years; five daughters; Vannessa Mangham, Khristy Bailey-Ishmael, Karen Bailey, Kelly Bailey and Ruth Owens; one son, Kip Bailey; one brother, Jesse Bailey and one sister, Cassandra Bailey-Lewis; eleven grandchildren; Okesia, Brian, Okeabria, Kiara, Kendall, Kevin Jr., Raiyah, Kayla, Rashad, Dymond and Korbin; three great-grandchildren; Ynesia, Brandon and Shae; mother-in-law, Beatrice Phillips; five brothers-in-law; Freddie (Frances) Phillips, John (Delores) Phillips, Perry (Christine) Phillips, Tom (Katherine) Phillips and Lamar (Miranda) Ison; three sisters-in-law; Maxine (Aaron) Barkley, Bernice (Willie) Buchanan and Mona Lisa Jackson; special friends, Jackie Holmes, Willie Terrell, Gary Reid, Willie Tyus and Ronnie Dennis and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Visitation for Mr. Wilbur Bailey will be on Monday, February 6, 2012 from 6:00pm until 8:00pm at the Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:00 am in the chapel of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Griffin Memorial Gardens with military honors. The family will assemble at the residence at 10:15 on Tuesday morning.

Wilbur Randolph Bailey

March 27, 1935 - February 1, 2012