A. Purnell Bailey
Date published: 7/18/2006
A. Purnell Bailey
The Rev. Amos Purnell Bailey, a resident of Chancellor's Village in Spotsylvania County and a native of Grotons, Accomack County, was promoted to glory Sunday, July 16, 2006, at Mary Washington Hospital.
Dr. Bailey was educated at Randolph-Macon College (B.A.); Duke Divinity School (B.D.); Union Theological Seminary, Richmond (Th.M.); Union Theological Seminary, New York; and the Ecumenical Institute, Jeru-salem. Dr. Bailey was later honored by Randolph-Macon with a Doctor of Divinity degree. A significant endowment was given to the college in his name to fund scholarships for students aspiring to the ministry.
He had a distinguished career as an Army chaplain with the 1st Cavalry Division during World War II. He began writing his syndicated column, Our Daily Bread, in the Stars and Stripes newspaper while serving on Gen. McArthur's staff in Tokyo in 1945. Over the past 66 years, his radio program, books and inspirational column, which he wrote every day, ministered to thousands around the world.
As an ordained United Methodist minister in the Virginia Annual Conference, he served pastorates at Centenary, Reveille, Beulah and New Kent charge in Richmond; Grace in Newport News; Oak Grove in Chesapeake; and was the District Superintendent of the Richmond District. During the final 10 years of his active ministry, he was in charge of all the United Methodist Church's chaplains worldwide.
Dr. Bailey is survived by his wife, Betty Lou Sheffield Bailey. His first wife, Ruth Hill Bailey, died in 1992. He has four daughters, Carol Harriman of Alexandria, Anne Page of Raleigh, N.C., Elizabeth Richardson of Richmond and Jeanne Dodge-Allen of Fairfax; 17 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He also is survived by one brother, Homer Bailey of Tulsa, Okla.; and three stepchildren, Walter Sheffield of Fredericksburg, Dr. Polly Roberts of Roanoke and Courtney Lou Tierney of O'Fallon, Ill.
The burial will be private.
A memorial service will be held at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church Saturday, July 22, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held before and after the service.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the A. Purnell Bailey Scholarship Fund, Randolph-Macon College, Box 5005, Ashland, Va. 23005.
Date published: 7/18/2006
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