Shirley Jean Graves Bailey passed away on November 20, 2013, in Nacogdoches.
A celebration of her life will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, November 24, 2013, at Calvary Baptist Church, Nacogdoches. Bro. Paul Sevar of Calvary Baptist Church, Nacogdoches, and Bro. Walter Futch of Trinity Baptist Church, Lufkin, will officiate. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, Nacogdoches.
Visitation will be at Cason Monk-Metcalf on Saturday, November 23, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Shirley Graves Bailey was born March 23, 1927, in Johnson City, New York, to Clifford and Mildred Scudder. She attended Eastern Baptist College and Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA.
She came to Nacogdoches first in 1968 with her husband, Rev. Robert Graves, who was pastor of First Baptist Church, Nacogdoches, until 1972. They also pastored churches in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maine, and West Virginia. She returned to Nacogdoches after his death in 1975 and married Howard Bailey in 1979. He preceded her in death in 1999.
While in Nacogdoches she worked for Dr. Jack Erwin and then served as secretary to the music minister at Calvary Baptist Church.
After retirement, she committed herself to church and charitable organizations. She was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church, a member of the Friendship Sunday School Class, and the Joyful Sound choir. Having sung all her life, she was often asked to sing in church and is well remembered for singing “He Touched Me.”
She served as president of the Pilot Club of Nacogdoches and later as Governor of the Texas District of Pilot International. She was the first inductee in the Pilot Texas District Hall of Fame. She also volunteered with the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In 2001, she helped establish the Rainbow Room, a charitable organization to support the work of Child Protective Services. She served as president of the Nacogdoches County Community Partners Board of Protective Services, which oversees the Rainbow Room. For her service, Governor George W. Bush recognized her with the “President’s Call to Service” Award. In 2011, the Rainbow Room was renamed the Shirley Bailey Rainbow Room in her honor.
She is survived by son, Gordon Graves and wife Shirley of Arlington; son, Keith Graves and wife Judy of Nacogdoches; daughter, Beth Napier and husband Chuck of Charlotte, North Carolina; stepson, Bill Bailey and wife Joy of Houston; stepdaughter, Mary Rice and husband Randy of Nacogdoches; and stepdaughter Cathy Hammack and husband John of Ingram, Texas.
She had seven grandchildren: Shane Graves and wife Dina of The Woodlands, Bryan Graves of Melrose, Wendy Teer and husband Eric of Burleson, Scott Graves and wife Melissa of Arlington, Amanda Mader and husband Joe of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Nick Napier and Charlie Napier of Charlotte, North Carolina. She also had ten great-grandchildren: Nolan and Caleb Graves of Melrose, Peyton, Rylie, and Bryce Graves of The Woodlands; Noah and Joel Teer of Burleson; Troy and Landrey Graves of Arlington; and Michael Mader of Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Many friends were part of her life, including special friends George and Loretta Cammack, Margie Berger, Fran Simms, Jill Bush, Dorothy Wallace, and Tommye Adams. Her family also wishes to thank the staff at The Arbor Assisted Living, where she lived for the last two years, for their compassionate and loving care.
The family requests that memorials go to the Nacogdoches Community Partners-Rainbow Room or the music ministry of Calvary Baptist Church.
Online memories and condolences may be offered at www.CasonMonk-Metcalf.com.
Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors.
