William Palmer Bailey

Attorney William Palmer Bailey, 64, of Calhoun passed away suddenly at the home of one of his sons, Palmer, in Macon Saturday, April 28, 2012.

He is survived by his wife, Stella Williams Bailey of Calhoun, formerly of Cordele; his two sons and their wives, William Douglass and Leigh Willis Bailey of Americus and Charles Palmer and Rosemary Mathias Bailey of Macon; and three wonderful grandchildren, Julia Caroline Bailey, Emily Claire Bailey and Charles Chapman Bailey. He is also survived by a sister, Melissa Anne Bailey of Lilburn. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Satterfield and Betty Palmer Bailey.

Born in Atlanta, Mr. Bailey spent his teen years in Gainesville and graduated from Gainesville High School in 1965 where he was a student leader and excelled in basketball. Knowing the importance of education, he worked his way through the University of Georgia, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and completing law school with a Juris Doctorate in 1971. He worked hard for his degrees and completed the rigorous three plus three program which allowed a student to enter law school after three years of undergraduate studies. While at the University, his hard work, intellect and charisma earned him the highest honors of Blue Key, Gridiron and induction into the prestigious Sphinx Society. Additionally, Mr. Bailey served as a justice on the Student Judiciary. Also during his college years he participated in the Army ROTC program, earning his officer's commission.

He began his law career in a real estate practice in Decatur. In 1972 he moved to Calhoun and began the practice of law with the well known attorney, James Beverly Langford and became a successful attorney in his own right. Respected by his peers for his courtroom prowess, he was a true Southern lawyer. He became a sole practitioner in the early 1980's and currently practiced with his partner, George Patrick Govignon since 1997. He practiced all areas of general law, including participating on the indigent defense panel. Currently, the majority of his business was in governmental law, serving as the City of Calhoun attorney since 1992, and in commercial law. He earned his excellent reputation representing local government when he served the Gordon County Board of Commissioners for over 10 years.

He was an active member of Kiwanis Club's early years, serving as a board member and the meeting fellowship moderator. He was also active in the First Baptist Church of Calhoun where he served many terms as a deacon and was a long time teacher of the men's Sycamore Sunday School class. He was selected and served on its last pulpit committee in 1980.

His memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 3, 2012 in the chapel of Rainey Family Funeral Services, 1415 East 24th Avenue, Cordele, Georgia. The interment will be private. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to First Baptist Church of Calhoun, 411 College Street, Calhoun, Georgia 30703. An on-line guest register is available at www.raineyfuneral.com.