Ann Linville Bailey

Ann Linville Bailey, of Wilson passed away at home on May 23, 2018 at the age of 89. She was born on February 16, 1929 in Kernersville, the middle child of parents, Lola Jessup Linville and Walter Smith Linville. She graduated from Woman's College of the University of North Carolina (WC), now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, in May 1951 and worked for a short time as a Social Worker at Caswell Training School in Kinston. While her career was brief, Ann was extremely proud of her education at WC and always said, “when you educate a woman, you educate a family!” Ann was the devoted wife of the late George Tillman Bailey Jr. They met on a blind date arranged by a fellow Wilsonian, Si Lawrence, who at the time was dating a girl who worked at Caswell. They attended a September 1951 Wilson-Kinston high school football game in Kinston. It was love at first sight and it did not take long before George proposed. They were married on April 19, 1952 when the lilacs were in bloom. After the wedding, Ann moved to Wilson, where George worked with his father at Independent Ice & Fuel Company. Ann and George were members of First United Methodist Church in Wilson and also attended Emma Anderson Memorial Chapel at Topsail Beach. When George retired in 1989, the couple started living at Topsail Beach for six months of the year. Family was the center of Ann and Georges world. Ann fed George three meals a day, every day, unless he was camping with the scouts, fishing or too busy at the “Ice Plant” to come home. In fact, when George was still working she would make the “mix” for ice cream and he would churn it at the plant. He would share it with the other men before packing it in ice to bring it home. She showed her love through her Southern cooking. There was always a dish prepared to take to a family after a birth, after a death or to someone just needing love. Anns mother, Jakie, taught her how to cook and Ann passed on the tradition by teaching her daughter, Laura Ann. With grandchildren, Ann became Nana and she got Daddy George to make a larger dining table for the beach. She was so proud of her grandbabies and great-grandbabies and they loved her good cooking! They all brought friends and some went home with a recipe card for her famous pimento cheese. As she aged and her eyes failed she had a close family friend, Evon, grate the cheese for her pimento cheese. She always made more than she needed so she could share it with her “wonderful little neighbors.” Ann could do it all: sew a prom dress, make a grandsons JonJon with appliqu, knit a sweater, cap and booties for a grandbaby, cross stitch a nursery rhyme and crochet white snowflakes for a Christmas tree. Between Anns cooking and crafts and Georges furniture and birds, they were constantly busy and they finished every project with love. In addition to her parents and George, Ann was preceded in death by her sister, Jane Linville Joyner and husband, William, of Chapel Hill. Left to cherish her memories are her children, Laura Ann Bailey Leamon and husband, Mike, of Charlotte and Dr. George Tillman Bailey III and wife, Susan, of Rocky Mount. Ann is also survived by her younger brother, Dr. Walter Smith Linville and wife, Deas, of Wilson and Topsail Beach; grandchildren, Steven Michael Leamon Jr. and wife, Min, of Pittsburgh, PA; George Walter Leamon and wife, Lucia, of Buenos Aires, Argentina; Elizabeth Wooding Bailey of Arlington, VA and Sallie Tillman Bailey Plumley and husband, Charlie, of Richmond, VA; great-grandchildren, Dylan Michael Leamon, Ryan Arthur Leamon, Benjamin George Leamon and Isabel (Isa) Leamon; nieces, Lynn Linville-Lauritano (Al); Nancy Linville Bost (Nick); Ginny Linville Kirkland (Byron); Genie Coble Winborne; Cameron Coble Lowe (John); Janie Joyner Kaney (Rex); and nephews, William Stafford Joyner (Linda); Matthew Rights Joyner (Betsy); and godchild, Barbara Wray Heath. Ann also leaves behind her granddog, Bailey Ann Leamon. Ann's family will receive friends and relatives on Friday, June 15, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the home of Susan and Tillman Bailey in Rocky Mount. All are welcome to attend the Service in Celebration of Ann's life, officiated by Reverend Morgan Daughety, on Saturday, June 16 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of First United Methodist Church, corner of Green and Tarboro Streets in Wilson. Visitation will follow in the Parlor of First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Ann's memory may be made to the Linville Scholarship - Main Street United Methodist Church, 306 S Main St, Kernersville, NC 27284; Emma Anderson Memorial Chapel, PO Box 3071, Topsail Beach, NC 28445 or First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1423, Wilson, NC 27894. The family is grateful to Dr. Doug Slater, Dr. Bill Deans and Hospice and Palliative Care of Nash Health Care. Our family is especially thankful for Evon Wiley Lathans love of our Nana. The evermore pressing needs of Nana caused by her failing health and rapidly worsening eyesight never seemed to overwhelm Evon. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com. Visitation Location Not Available Friday 6/15, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm The Family will receive friends and relatives on Friday, June 15, 2018 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Home of Susan and Tillman Bailey. Service First United Methodist Church (Wilson) 100 Green Street, NE Wilson, NC 27893 Saturday 6/16, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm A Celebration of Ann's Life will be held on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 11:00 AM at First United Methodist Church (Wilson), 100 Green Street, NE, Wilson, NC 27893.