Dorothy Virginia Herndon Bailey, age 80, passed into glory on Sunday, August 25, 2024. She was born in Ft. Lauderdale, FL where her dad was stationed in the Navy, then moved to Lake City at age two with her parents to live on the family farm.  She was the first of four children born to Jack Randolph Herndon and Eunice Parker Herndon.  Dorothy graduated from Columbia High School in the Class of 1961.  While in school she was in 4-H, Home Economics Class and voted Future Homemakers of America Queen, Girl Scouts and was an office assistant.  As exemplified in the yearbook, she met everyone with a smile; she continued enjoying her classmates through the years, as they would meet at least once a year and sometimes more.  She also attended Georgia Business Institute in Valdosta and upon completion; she was employed at Brown Reality & Abstract and at Wilson Life Insurance Company.  She joined the Department of Transportation (old State Road Department) in 1963 where she was employed for over thirty years.  She was a Charter member of the Olustee Chapter, UDC, 2488 Florida Division.

Russell Bailey of Wellborn and Dorothy were married March 24, 1963, and made their home on the Herndon Property (Dorothy referred to this piece of land as her 'Tara').  Dorothy volunteered in many capacities – Team Mom, chauffeur, chaperon (on numerous field trips and school functions).  In their retirement years, Russell & Dorothy continued to raise cattle, harvest pine trees and develop subdivisions.  They enjoyed traveling with tour groups, planes, cruise ships and buses; meeting and laughing with other travelers, and, of course, CHS Tiger Football and UF Gators.  For over fifty years they hosted an Easter Celebration covered dish in their home, with family, friends, and neighbors. She enjoyed the outdoors, annual family beach vacations, and sunsets.  As a follower of Christ Jesus, professing her faith at age 8,  Dorothy was totally active at the Methodist Church, including choir, Praise Team, Sunday School teacher, VBS, youth programs, leadership/liaison, liturgist, and Lay Servant/Speaker.  She had a hospitable passion for serving others.  Her most prized blessing was the opportunity to help and be involved in the lives of grandchildren; you could always count on Nanny "B".

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Russell of 59 years  in 2022, grandson, Hunter Bailey, age 21 in 2013, and sister Joann, age 8, in 1954.

She is survived by four sons and their families:  Rusty and his wife Trish, Scott and his wife Emily, Kevin and his wife Hillary, all of Lake City, and Dusty and his wife Carrie of Gainesville – 11 grandchildren, Remington and Tara Bailey, Bethany Bailey Herron and her husband Ashton, Lauren Bailey Breman and her husband Gavin, Josh "B" Bailey.  –  Aiden, Brooke and Cooper Bailey all of Lake City; Ava and Brielle Bailey of Gainesville; great-grandchildren, Hunter and Hazel Herron;  brother Jack Herndon, Jr. & his wife, Becky, sister Ruth Moore and her husband, Gator all of Lake City and like-a-daughter, Debbie King and her husband, Carl of Fort White. Well-loved nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

Visitation will be held at Gateway Forest Lawn Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 from 5:00-7:00 P.M.. A Funeral Service will be at First Methodist Church on Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Aaron Ankeny, Pastor Dusty Bailey and Pastor Fritz Fountain officiating.  A reception will immediately follow the service at the church fellowship hall.   Interment will follow at Wellborn Cemetery, Suwannee County at 2:00 PM.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Methodist Church of Lake City or to Gideons International.

Gideons International-Lake City Camp
P.O Box 1805, Lake City FL 32056

First Methodist Church of Lake City
973 South Marion Ave, Lake City FL 32025