My best friend and husband Kenneth “Bongo” Watson Bailey age 57 went to be with Lord on Monday evening, July 11, 2011 at West Georgia Hospice in LaGrange, Georgia after a 2 year battle. He was given to us on Sunday, December 27, 1953 in LaGrange, Georgia to Emmett and Ruby Bailey. He was an only child and lived all his life in LaGrange, Georgia. In the time he was with us he touched many lives, made life better and sometimes crazier for being in them. He made my life and the life of our children as close to perfect on June 26, 1992 when he made us a family.
He was preceded in death by his parents Emmett and Ruby Bailey. He attended Rosemont Elementary School and then Troup High School where he graduated in 1972. He was blessed to have a second set of parents who helped shape his life during these years and that was R.T. and Betty Perdue. After high school he attended LaGrange College where he was an active member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. The Delts were a very important part of his life and still were even after graduation in 1977. He was also a member of the LaGrange Jaycees for several years. He is remembered best for his sense of humor and quick wit. He never let anything get him down and would not let anyone else around him be down.
He is retired from the U.S. Postal Service in LaGrange, Georgia where he was a Rural Mail Carrier. He was a member of Rosemont Baptist Church until 2010 were he severed as Usher and greeter in the worship service and as greeter in the Preschool Department for over 15 years until 2009 when he had to stop due to health. He is currently a member of First Baptist Church on the square.
Survivors include his wife Deborah M. Bailey of LaGrange; a daughter, Amanda M. Green of LaGrange; a son, Sgt. Thomas W. Bailey, USMC, his daughter-in-law Samantha Bailey and two grandsons Andrew(3) and Caellum(2) all of Danville, PA; his father and mother-in-law Thomas and Barbara Power both of West Point, Georgia; his brother-in-law, Chuck (Wendy) Power of LaGrange, Georgia; his sister-in-law Tracy (Chuck) Bain of West Point, Georgia; two very special nephews Devin(16) and Dillion Power(12) and two very special angels (nieces) Taylor(5) and Anna Bain(3); multiple cousins and a very special friend who is more like a brother than friend Gene (Kay) Fryer of LaGrange, Georgia. According to them before marriage to their wives they could have been called the original wedding crashers and multiple fraternity brothers and good friends,
Services will be held in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church on the Square in LaGrange Georgia on Saturday, July 16, 2011, at 11:00 AM EST. Visitation will be held Friday evening, July 15, 2011, from 5:00 PM EST until 7:00 PM EST in the Ida Cason Callaway Memorial Chapel at First Baptist Church on the Square. The family will be at their home at 209 Melrose Drive, LaGrange, Georgia.
We would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers and all the staff at West Georgia Hospice for their great care and love during this time.
Flowers will be appreciated but anyone wishing can make a donation to West Georgia Hospice, 1510 Vernon Road, LaGrange, Georgia, 30240 in memory of Kenneth “Bongo: Bailey.
