Paul Clinton Bailey, 1935 – 2006

On Monday, Jan. 23, 2006, Dr. Paul Clinton Bailey went to be with the Lord he so lovingly and faithfully served all of his life. Paul was born in Martinsburg, W.Va., on Aug. 15, 1935, the son of Clinton Stewart Bailey and Norma Hovermale Bailey.

An ordained clergy in the Virginia Annual Conference of the former Evangelical United Brethren Church and The United Methodist Church for 43 years, Paul served the following parishes: Singers Glen Charge; Broadway Charge; Sunset Drive, Broadway; Jamieson Memorial, Clarksville; Timberlake, Lynchburg; Main Street, Waynesboro; and Virginia Beach. He also served as superintendent of the Portsmouth District and interim superintendent of the Norfolk District.

Paul was a four-time delegate to the General Conference of The United Methodist Church and a delegate to the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference numerous times. He was a member of the World Methodist Council, having served as a delegate to four World Methodist Conferences. At the time of his death, he was serving as director of the Ministerial Exchange Program for the World Methodist Council. Since retirement in 2000, Paul had greatly enjoyed his work as a chaplain at Augusta Medical Center (AMC) and AMC Wellness Center.

Paul’s work in the Virginia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church includes: member, and later chair, of the Board of Ordained Ministry; lay pastor coordinator for the Board of Ministry; secretary of the Virginia Conference Trustees; secretary of the Council on Finance and Administration; member of the Board of Global Ministries; member of the Board of Pensions; and chair of the Staunton District Committee on Ministry.

Paul did his undergraduate work at Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music, and Madison College. He held graduate degrees from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Shenandoah University.

God blessed Paul and his wife of 46-1/2 years, Rosalie, with an extremely happy marriage and two wonderful daughters of whom he was immensely proud: Beth Bailey Heller and her husband, Ted, of Richmond, Va.; and Cathy Lynn Bailey of New York City. Two granddaughters enriched his life and brought him great joy: Emily Palmer Heller and Catherine Bailey Heller, of Richmond. A sister, Nancy Bailey Cline, also survives him.

Memorial services were held at Main Street United Methodist Church in Waynesboro, Va., on Saturday, Jan. 28; at Virginia Beach United Methodist Church on Sunday, Jan. 29; and at Augusta Medical Center, Fishersville, Va., on Friday, Feb. 3. A service of committal was held at Martinsburg, W.Va., on the day before Easter to celebrate Paul’s beautiful life and the promise of Resurrection.

The joy of Paul’s vibrant personality, his welcoming smile, and his warm hugs will be forever missed by all who knew him.

— Rosalie G. Baile