James "Jim" Daniel Bailey

The son of George and Ellen Bailey of North Augusta, South Carolina, Jim was born on September 2, 1946 in New York City. His early life saw him reside in many locales, notably Chattanooga, Tennessee, Fontainebleau, France, and Augusta, Georgia due principally to the military career his father had in the United States Army. After acquiring a Bachelor of Business degree from Augusta College, Jim also proudly served his country in the U.S. Army where he was a Rotary Wing Aircraft Apprentice, Aerial Photographer and Door Gunner while deployed in Bien Hoa, Vietnam.

After his honorable discharge in 1970, he received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of South Carolina. By 1975, he had partnered with Henry Summerall, Jr., as a trial attorney (34 years) in Aiken, South Carolina. Jim is most notably remembered for pioneering legislative reform for fair compensation to attorneys appointed by the State to represent indigent defendants charged with murder. In May of 1977, Jim married Laurie Ann Kelker of North Augusta and they lived in Aiken where they lovingly raised their three children. The couple remained in Aiken for 35 years before moving to Gainesville, Georgia in 2012 after his retirement.

Throughout his life Jim enjoyed his membership at the Palmetto Golf Club, hunting, fishing, camping, wildlife photography, bird watching, cooking, beach trips, telling dad jokes, being a dog whisperer and primarily spending time with his children and grandchildren.

He will be greatly missed by those surviving him, including his wife Laurie of 45 years, his children, Daniel (Tara) Bailey, Beth (Ben) Bailey, and Sam (Melissa) Bailey; his three grandchildren, Kiley Bailey, George D. Bailey, III (Trey), and Gavin Bailey; his sister Beverly Sniffin.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Athens, Georgia.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. at the home of Jim and Laurie’s daughter in Athens.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any one of Jim’s favorite charities, most notably the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Feeding America, The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, Operation Smile, The Thomas Moore Society, The United States Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Wounded Warriors, and the USO.

Online condolences may be offered at www.BernsteinFuneralHome.com.

Bernstein Funeral Home, Athens, Georgia, is in charge of arrangements.