Wayne Bailey

Rocky Mount - 

Wayne Bailey, age 72, passed away Saturday, March 25, 2023 with his family by his side and entered into eternal heaven with his Lord and Savior. He was born December 6th, 1950 at Fort Bragg, NC. He was the son of Jack and Mavis Bailey of Rocky Mount, NC. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Jackie Bailey and Donald Bailey, both of Rocky Mount and father-in-law, Robert "Bobby" Clark.

In 1968 he left the tobacco field and joined the U.S. Army, graduating from special training at Fort Gordon, GA in 1969, he was assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regimen and deployed to Vietnam. He was a proud Vietnam Veteran and while under enemy gunfire, he was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart and two Army Commendation medals with V device. (First Oak Leaf Cluster). His love for our country led him to a 23 year career and  he was the eptiome of the Army motto: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. He taught those under his command these same values and demonstrated these values throughout his life. He was a graduate of Barry University in Heavy Weapons Technology. During his Army tenure, he was awarded numerous  honors, achievements and awards. He was a member of the DAV, VFW, National 11th Armored Calvary Regimen, K9sforWarriors, and PTSD Foundation of America. 

After retirement, he enjoyed vacations and traveling with his wife and sons. He loved his children and teaching them the values of life, traveling and watching his sons play basketball, football, music or whatever they decided to endeavor in. He loved his brothers and sister and their families. He loved music and was an avid drummer and played with a few bands after retirement. He was an avid UNC sports fan all his life. He and Ellen loved cars and at age 65, he finally bought his dream car, a red corvette, which he named "big red." Wayne loved life and cherished each day. He loved to laugh and have a good time; he never met a stranger and had a gift for gab, especially politics and you would never win that conversation. He was a true patriot and a loving husband, father, papa, brother and friend to many.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving and devoted wife of 32 years, Ellen Clark Bailey, and their son, Seth Alexander Bailey and wife, Bianca; sons, John Wayne Bailey and wife, Denise of Roswell, GA and Selby Todd Bailey, and wife, Shanna of Atlanta, GA; grandson, Sebastian Todd Bailey of Atlanta, GA; brothers, Dennis Bailey, wife, Brenda of Spring Hope, Gerald Bailey, wife, Joyce, of Whitakers, Danny Ray Bailey of Battleboro; sister, Patricia Ann Petway and husband, Randall of Wilson; sisters-in-law, Sandra Bailey and Phyllis Shearin; mother-in-law, Audrey Clark of Rocky Mount; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Greg and Lisa Clark, of Rocky Mount and a host of many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and soldier buddies.

A special thanks to Ms. Blair Middleton of Boice Willis Clinic for your compassionate and exemplary care. We love you Blair. Also to UNC Chapel Hill Heart and Vascular, UNC Chapel Hill Wound and Podiatry, South Rocky Fresenius Kidney Center and a special thank you to Tammy Calhoun for the training of home diaylsis; also Sarah Rourk and Dawn; Jennifer Daniels and all the dialysis team/technicians at English Road Fresenius Kidney Center Rocky Mount. 

A service will be held Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 1:00PM at Northside Church, 1660 Beaver Pond Road, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Interment with full military honors will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery, Nashville, NC. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 11:30AM, also at Northside Church and other times at the home. 

Flowers are accepted or memorials can be made to http://donate.K9sforWarriors.org (check the box for memorial gift), PTSD Foundation of America (check the box for memorial gift) or a veteran charity of your choice.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.