Mr. William Temple Bailey

William Temple Bailey went home to see Jesus, and his beloved wife Marge, on Thursday, March 7, 2019. Bill was born on April 22, 1928 in Birmingham, Alabama to Horace Eugene Bailey and Ethel Bassett Bailey. They moved to Gadsen County, Florida shortly after he was born.

Bill graduated from high school in 1946 and joined the Army. He was sent to the Philippines and Guam and earned the expert rifle badge (M1) and 45 Pistol. After the Army he attended Stetson University in Deland, Florida and majored in Business Administration. He graduated from the School of Banking of the South, Louisiana State University and the American Institute of Banking.

In 1950 he came to Jacksonville to visit his cousin at the Florida National Bank. He saw my mother across the room and decided she was the one. He interviewed that very day and got a job at the bank. That began his banking career and what would become almost 67 years of being married to the love of his life.

During his career he worked at the Florida National Bank, the Atlantic Bank of Springfield as the First Vice President, and as member of the Board of Directors from 1958 to 1981. Bill and Marge moved to the Southside in the early 1980’s and he went to work for the American National Bank as Senior Vice President and Senior Loan Officer in the Commercial Loan Department from 1981 to February 1991. He retired in 1991.

During his career he was the President and Director of the National Association of Credit Management and a former Vice Chairman of the Florida Group, Robert Morris Associates. He was a former Director of the Opportunity Branch YMCA and the Director of the North Florida Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce. He served as Chairman of the North Council, Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce for two years, as Treasurer for two years, and a Director for several years. He was active in membership development of the North Council of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, attaining a position among the top ten for several years in chamber membership sales.

Bill made many friends over the years as he loved his customers, his Christian brothers and sisters and laughter – he loved to laugh! He loved the comics in the newspaper and read them every morning and his laughter would resonate throughout the house!

Bill and his wife Marge were members of the Riverside Park Church of Christ for 42 years and in 1981 placed membership at the San Jose Church of Christ where he has been a faithful member for 37 years. Bill gave talks during his career at work on the role of a Christian in your daily life and work life. He and Marge brought several people to Christ over the years. Bill loved his church family and always prayed for them daily.

Bill was a devoted family man, he loved his wife Marge, his daughter Temple, and his grandchildren, William Temple Bailey and Amy Jacqueline Roque, and the newest member to our family, Jay Roque. He and Marge loved Preston, a Morkie, who brought years of happiness to Amy and then to Mom and Dad at the end of their life, and continues to love us all. He loved Sage, a beautiful Siberian Husky, who also brought much happiness to them and to Bill, Jr. every day.

Bill loved to work with wood in his garage where he built several cabinets, refinished furniture, made walking canes and clocks that he gave to his friends and fellow church members. He believed God put us here to serve others and not for our own pleasure. He truly did help others in whatever way he could over the years.

Bill believed in the United States of America. He truly believed this is the greatest country in the world and felt we must stand up for our country and our President.

Bill is predeceased by his father and mother, Horace Eugene Bailey and Ethel Bassett Bailey; his brothers, Horace Eugene Bailey Jr. and Wallace Edmond Bailey; his wife, Marjorie Gurr Bailey; and his son, William James Bailey. He is survived by his daughter, Carolyn Temple Bailey; his grandchildren, William Temple Bailey Jr., Amy Jacqueline Roque and Jay Roque; and nieces, nephews and cousins that he loved with all his heart, and many close dear friends that he truly loved and cared for.

Visitation will be held at the Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel on Friday, March 15 from 5:30-7:30pm. The funeral service will be held at the San Jose Church of Christ on Saturday, March 16 at 11:00am. Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, friends may make donations to the San Jose Church of Christ, 6233 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida 32217 or Community Hospice & Palliative Care, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32257.

MY BOSS – WILLIAM T. BAILEY

I see my boss as a man who possesses keen understanding, compassion, forthrightness and love of his fellow man as well as a keen sense of humor which often lightens the load of a heavy day.

What he does with his life, well, it might be categorized as:

Love and devotion to family and home ~ to wife Marge, and daughter, Temple, his home workshop, where he turns out many lovely things ~

Attention to his positions as Vice President of the Springfield Atlantic Bank, where he listens, counsels and evaluates many and varied situations.

Faithfulness to Riverside Park Church of Christ, where he and his family work lovingly and tirelessly to help many who are ill or down, for one reason or another.

Interest in worthwhile civic projects, expending time and much energy towards the success of a particular project, such as Community Chest, Cancer Drive, Chamber of Commerce.

I have worked with Bill Bailey for five years and have enjoyed every minute of it, and hope to continue working with him for many, many more years to come. He is a hard taskmaster and cracks the whip, but with his tact and humor, he is certainly a man I respect most highly. He is most considerate and I know that neither his wife nor his “office wife” ever has to sing the song “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home"!!!

As seen through the eyes of MARIE BURNS