Loretta Jones Bailey was born Aug. 21, 1934 and died Oct. 13, 2019 at her home in Cullman, Alabama.
Loretta was born in Jasper, Alabama, the second of four children, to Lester and Lillian (Franklin) Jones.
She graduated from Birmingham-Southern and later earned a master’s degree from UAB. Loretta married her sweetheart, Gerald F. Bailey, in 1956 and they remained married until her death. Together, Gerald and Loretta have two children, Greg and Cheryl. Loretta loved being a teacher and taught school for over 35 years. For over 25 of those years, she taught second grade at East Elementary School in Cullman. She loved hearing from former students that she was a favorite teacher. And she did hear it often. An active member of First United Methodist Church in Cullman, Loretta taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and was active in her Sunday School class. Loretta will be remembered for her quick wit, her Christian spirit, her caring way with friends and family and her fierce love for Auburn University. She will be greatly missed and forever cherished.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Lillian (Franklin) Jones, father, Robert Lester Jones and brother, Franklin LaNue Jones.
Loretta is survived by her husband of 63 years, Gerald F. Bailey; son, Greg (Melissa) Bailey; daughter, Cheryl Dilworth; grandsons, Ryan Bailey, Kevin Bailey and Nicholas Dilworth; sister, Glenda (Larry) Williams; brother Thomas Elliott (Jeanette) Jones; sister-in-law, Sue Jones; and several beloved nieces and nephews.
Visitation and funeral service will be held at First United Methodist Church, Cullman, AL Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019. Visitation starts at 10 a.m. and the Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Walker Memory Gardens Cemetery in Jasper, AL.
