Gene was born to Sarah Anise Miller Griffith “Big Mama” and George E. Griffith on August 14, 1928, in Bluff City, Arkansas. She met her husband of 69 years, Burton Poulson Bailey in Nashville, Tennessee in the summer of 1951 at a lakeside cabin. That weekend was the start of their love for each other and the beginning of their lifelong shared love of lakes. They were married five months later on November 21, 1951. Together they have three surviving children and their spouses; Edward Poulson Bailey (Director of the Marine Center at Northwestern Michigan College) and his wife Marlene, Stephen Griffith Bailey (Senior Vice President at The Kendal Corporation) and his wife Christine, and Barbara Lynn Bailey Chartier (Research Administration Manager at Duke University) and her husband Greg; along with eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Gene is also survived by Charles Raines, David Raines and Carol Raines Rhea, children of her beloved sister Hattie Caraway Griffith Raines and her husband Max Raines.
Gene loved taking care of her family, loved all animals and made people smile wherever she went. Throughout her life in every new home location, she made lifelong friends and made a home for her family. Gene was a voracious reader interested in learning new things on every subject, a skilled cook, and a wonderful piano player. She was active in church life, as a youth leader at Normandy United Methodist Church in Centerville, Ohio and then at Romeo United Methodist Church in Romeo, Michigan; later becoming a longtime church secretary at the First Congregational Church in Williamstown, Massachusetts then a volunteer leader at Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church in Midlothian Virginia. Gene and Burt, a retired Chemical Engineer, retired and settled in Holly Springs, North Carolina where they have lived for 16 years and became active members of the Kirk of Kildare Presbyterian Church. Gene is someone who bloomed wherever she was planted.
Once she decided that she had successfully raised her family, Gene became a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker in Midlothian, Virginia. As a specialist on working with first time homebuyers, she became a trusted and highly successful salesperson. Gene earned Realtor of the Year honors two years in a row.
A small family funeral service is scheduled for Wednesday, October 13 at Montlawn Memorial Park and Cemetery in Raleigh, North Carolina. A larger celebration of her life for friends and family will take place in the coming months.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the SPCA of Wake County at 200 Petfinder Lane, Raleigh, N.C. 27603 on her behalf.
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