Susanne Palmer Bailey

Susanne Palmer Bailey (Sue) of Sanford, NC passed away peacefully at Parkview Retirement Home on September 7th. A funeral service will be held at Union Presbyterian Church in Cameron, NC on Sunday, September 15th at 3:00 with a reception following in the Stewart Fellowship Building.

Sue leaves behind a legacy of love and so many precious memories to comfort those who were blessed to be a part of her world. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend who loved deeply. As dementia robbed her of so much, she never stopped radiating love and kindness that made her a favorite with her many caregivers. She still tried to compliment every single person who walked through her door, even as her words left her. She spent her life trying to make others feel loved and special and that gift was never taken away.

She was born in Asheboro, NC to James Otis Palmer and Nellie Hucks Palmer, and moved to Sanford, NC as a young child. She spent her early days playing with her older brother and two younger sisters and had the best memories of their shenanigans. She maintained sweet friendships from her days at Sanford Central High School, friends who continued to love her and care for her.

Sue met the love of her life when she was nineteen years old. Gordon Bailey was her everything and together they married and created a beautiful life with their two daughters Susanne and Katherine. They were active members of Union Presbyterian Church in Moore County, the home church of generations of Baileys. Sue served as an elder, taught various children’s Sunday School classes, always helped with VBS and volunteered for many years as the church choir director. As a stay at home mom, she loved volunteering in her girls’ classrooms and chaperoning field trips. She always had the gift of recognizing and reaching out to children who needed a little extra love and attention and she would shower them with both. As her girls aged out of elementary school, Sue joined the Central Carolina Hospital Auxiliary and spent many hours spreading kindness to the patients.

Sue loved long morning walks, gallivanting with Gordon, spending time with her children and granddaughters, playing bridge in her two bridge clubs and entertaining. She was an amazing cook and loved pulling out her best table settings to make her meals extra special. Sue’s happiest place was Emerald Isle, where she walked countless miles up and down the beach shelling. She would bring overflowing buckets home after each trip to the coast and create intricate shell balls. She loved giving them away as much as she loved creating them.

Sue is predeceased by her parents, her sister Kay Palmer Shepherd and brother Robert Stephen Palmer.

She is survived by her husband Gordon Wayne Bailey, daughters Susanne Bailey Heins (Ned) of Sanford and Katherine Bailey Wheby (Munsey) of Sanford, granddaughters Bailey Elizabeth Heins, Katherine Campbell Wheby and Margaret Wells Wheby, sister Patricia Palmer Sprouse (Junior) of Sanford, brother in-law Cecil Evans Bailey (Pat) of Garner, sister inlaw Judy Bailey Hill (Byron) of Greensboro, sister in-law Ann Frye Bailey of Chesapeake, Virginia, sister in-law Nancy Andrews Palmer of Siler City and many wonderful nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family is so grateful for her incredible caregivers at Parkview Retirement Home and the staff of Amedisys Hospice. They have loved her so well, just as she loved them.

Memorial contributions may be made to Union Presbyterian Church, PO Box 898, Carthage, NC 28326.