Florence Mildred Bailey

Florence “Mildred” Sutton Watson Bailey passed away, peacefully and at home, on Thursday, July 13, 2023. Mildred Bailey was born on April 18, 1936, the youngest of Fuzz and Lovie Sutton’s five children. She spent her early years in the house on Fire Tower Road in Grant and attending the DAR School. In July of 1953, she married J.B. Watson of Claysville, and the couple started a family. Following J.B.’s tragic death in 1967, Mildred devoted her life to raising and providing for her three young children, Rickey, Linda, and Tammie. Throughout those years that followed, Mildred worked in the Lunchroom at Claysville School and Boaz Carpet & Yarn and attended all her children’s school functions and sporting events. When her children were grown and starting families of their own, Mildred found love again when she met Willie Bailey, a widower, at a community softball game. They married in October of 1982. Mildred not only found a husband, but she also gained an extended family including Willie’s children Donna, Ricky, Marilyn, and Carolyn. Willie died in 1997. Family was the most important thing to Mildred, and once she met someone, they became part of her family. She always thought of others. Every Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Birthday and Decoration dinner had ‘extra’ guests she invited because she didn’t want them to be alone on those special days. For years she rode the RSVP bus to Grant to quilt with her friends, and she was always up for a road trip to Crow Mountain or a new place to eat. She was a member of Baker’s Chapel Baptist Church and attended services as long as she was able. Mildred will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know her. Mildred is survived by her children Rickey Watson (Donna), Linda Young (Jervis), Tammie Evans (Danny), Donna Stewart (Bobby), Ricky Bailey (Sherry), Carolyn Cook (Tony), and Marilyn Champion (Daryel); her grandchildren Heather Green (Eric), Adam Watson (Brandy), Brandon Evans, Blake Evans (Carly), Dean Stewart (Candy), Lindsey Mason (Nicky), Mary Grace Stubblefield (Kevin), Clint Champion (Jaimie), Hannah O’Donnelly (Casey), Sonya Young, and Daniel Starnes (Stephanie); sister-in-law Ann Watson; brothers-in-law Donald Watson and Edward Bailey; and 13 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband J.B. Watson; her husband Willie Bailey; parents Hubert “Fuzz” and Lovie Mae Sutton; brothers Paul Sutton and Johnny Sutton; sisters Agnes Whitaker and Mary Sue Hulsey; and grandson Daniel Bright. The services were held at Guntersville Memorial Chapel, and Mildred was laid to rest at Free Home Cemetery in Grant on Sunday, July 16th. In lieu of flowers, Mildred’s family has asked that donations be made to Shepherd’s Cove Hospice in honor of the caregivers who made it possible for her to remain comfortable at home, as she wished.

Florence Mildred Bailey

April 18, 1936 - July 13, 2023