Therlus Cloteele “Teele” Dryden Bailey, 83, of Tifton died Wednesday, September 30, 2009, at Archbold Medical Center in Thomasville. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2009, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton’s First Baptist Church. Dr. Wayne Roe and Dr. W. Ches Smith, III will officiate with burial to follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Elmer Dryden, Guy Dryden, David McMillan, Greg Sheppard, Don Maxey and Adam McMillan will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends on Friday, October 2, 2009, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Mrs. Bailey was born on September 13, 1926 in Ashburn and was the daughter of Guy William Dryden, Sr. and Emma Susan Shivers Dryden, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, George Rufus Bailey, who died on August 2, 2009. She and her husband owned and operated Bailey’s Tifton Tire Company for 40 years. Prior to their tire dealership, they owned and operated the Tiny Tot Shop, which was a local children’s clothing store.
Mrs. Bailey loved the Lord and was an active member of First Baptist Church of Tifton for 61 years. As a member of First Baptist Church, she enjoyed serving in areas such as Sunday School, the nursery and various church committees. Mrs. Bailey was a member of the Ruth Youmans Sunday School Class and loved attending worship services.
She cherished being a wife to George; mother to Gina, Jan and Judy; and Nana to Ashley, Ashton, Ansley, Adam, Allison, Lindsey and Melissa.
Mrs. Bailey is survived by three daughters and two sons-in-law, Gina and David McMillan of Tifton, Jan and Greg Sheppard of Tifton and Judy Maxey of Atlanta; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Ashley McMillan Cunningham and her husband Chris of London, England, Ashton Flynt of Tifton, Ansley Flynt of Vacaville, California, Adam McMillan of Athens, Allison Flynt of Tifton, Lindsey Maxey Henderson and her husband, Matthew of Guam and Melissa Maxey of Atlanta; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Elmer and Dee Dryden of Charlotte, North Carolina, Guy and Diana Dryden of Merritt Island, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Forward in Faith building fund at First Baptist Church or The Gideons International, Tifton Gideon Camp, P. O. Box 7051, Tifton, GA 31793-7051.