H. Clay Bailey

Published 1:41 pm Friday, July 7, 2023

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On Thursday, July 6, 2023, H. Clay Bailey passed away at the age of 86. A native of Elizabethton, Clay was born to the late Henry Clay Bailey Sr. and Pauline Graybeal Bailey. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters-in-law, Anne Williams Bailey and Nancy Mitchell Bailey.
Clay was a graduate of Milligan College, earned his Bachelor’s degree at Johnson Bible College and his Master of Divinity Degree at Emmanuel School of Religion. He ministered at Valley Forge Christian Church for 33 years and at several other churches in the area. Clay was a Professor at Bluefield College of Evangelism in Bluefield, W.Va. He was a member of Hampton Masonic Lodge #750 F&AM and the City Market Club.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Joan Smith Bailey; three daughters and sons-in-law, Ricki and Jeff Dykes of Piney Flats, Tenn., Jenni and Jeff Carowan of Lewisville, N.C., and Lori and Tim Shields of Elizabethton, Tenn.; his grandchildren, Kala and Matthew Jacques, Jordan Dykes, Andy and Morgan Carowan, Sam and Kristyn Carowan, Dr. Landon and Dr. Tara Shield, and Dr. Christopher and Hanna Shields; his great-grandchildren, Cooper Shields and Killian Jacques; and two brothers, Charles Bailey of Woodruff, S.C., and Michael and Debra Bailey of Aiken, S.C.
A service to honor the life of H. Clay Bailey will be conducted at 3 p.m. Monday, July 10, in the Chapel of Peace at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Mr. Ken Overdorf, minister, and Dr. David Eubanks, minister, officiating. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel between the hours of 1 and 3 p.m. Monday, prior to the service. The service will be livestreamed and may be viewed at 3 p.m. Monday. Those wishing to view the livestream may visit www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary for H. Clay Bailey. The committal and entombment will follow at the Mausoleum of Hope at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Kala Jacques, Jordan Dykes, Andy Carowan, Sam Carowan, Dr. Christopher Shields, Dr. Landon Shields and Dr. Jake Jenkins. Words of comfort can be shared with the family by visiting our website at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton is honored to serve the family of Mr. H. Clay Bailey. Office Phone (423) 542-2232; Obituary Line (423) 543-4917.

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