January 16, 1938 – January 23, 2021
David Thomas Bailey, Jr., 83, returned to our Heavenly Father on Saturday January 23, 2021. He was born January 16, 1938 in Wake County to the late David Thomas Bailey, Sr. and Lula Grey Todd Bailey. He was passionate about his career and took great joy in cultivating relationships with his sales customers, often referring to them as his friends. He was a fine son, brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He loved to travel for his job, loved his family and loved enjoying making others laugh with his great sense of humor. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Nan Bailey Crawford and the mother of his three oldest children, Suzanne Cook Bailey.
He is survived by his brothers, Sam Bailey (Nell) and Jim Bailey (Caren). He is survived by the mother of his eight youngest children, Lynn Bailey.
He is survived by his eleven children and their spouses, David Thomas Bailey III (Ann), Mark Scott Bailey (De Anne), Kendall Paige Bailey Grossenbach (Scott), Tracy Lynn Bailey Smallwood (Matt), Joshua Paul Bailey (Karen), Michael Bruce Bailey (Annie), Peter Brice Bailey (Beth), Chrystie Marie Bailey Johnson (Chase), Jeremy John Bailey, Jonathon Douglas Bailey and Brittany Nicole Bailey.
He is survived by his twenty-four grandchildren as follows: David Bailey’s children: Meredith Bailey, Hannah Bailey; Mark Bailey’s children: Hunter Bailey, Keely Bailey, Hailey Handley (Stewart), Hannah Bailey, Halissa Bailey; Kendall Bailey Grossenbach’s children: Whitney Salmon (Luke), Lindsey Robison (Patrick), Jacob Grossenbach and Hailey Grossenbach; Tracy Bailey Smallwood’s child: Kirstyn Bailey; Joshua Bailey’s children: Charlotte Ann Bailey, Justin Bailey; Michael Bailey’s children: Cooper Bailey, Madeleine Bailey, Cole Bailey, Juliet Bailey, Evangeline Bailey, Cash Thomas Bailey; Peter Bailey’s children: Maggie Bailey, Elijah Bailey and Chrystie Bailey Johnson’s children: Gabriel Johnson, Kaylee Johnson.
He is survived by his seven great grandchildren as follows: Abe Salmon, Claire Salmon, Wyatt Salmon, Lucy Salmon, Penny Salmon, Salem Robison and Ezra Handley.
Lastly, he is survived by his many other loving friends and relatives.
Graveside service will be held privately for immediate family only. Arrangements with Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, 211 W. Third Street, Wendell, NC 27561.
15 Comments
Tom taught me everything I know about waste equipment and had it not been for him, I would not be where I am today. I can hear him saying to me, “Little lady, you are a spit-fire! All these guys better just get out of your way because you are going places!”
Tom Bailey, you will be missed by so many of us whose lives you touched with your kind words and sweet smile. 😭❤
Our condolences to the entire Bailey family.
Tom was instrumental to our successful entry into the disposal part of our recycling company. He mentored a novice , NY, Italian young Mother , driving a Cadillac, into the Tidewater world of trash …no easy feat in the decades past.
His Southern manner, lanky good looks, extensive knowledge, sense of humor , love of his family made him a most welcomed guest to our business and lives.
We will forever miss Tom and wish him well on this new journey.
Thoughts and prayers go with him.
Over my 23 years in the waste industry working with different companies, I Always looked forward to seeing Tom saunter in with his Southern Charm, firm handshake and his amazing ability to connect with people. Even on my busiest days, an unannounced visit from Tom meant pushing all else to the side to “Set a spell”, catch up and listen to him weave sales into our conversation, but Always with his focus on his customer, whom he Always treated genuinely as a Life-Long friend. Rest In Peace, my friend. We are a better world for your having been a part of it.
Tom was a friend and I had great respect for him.
My prayers go out to his family for losing a fine gentleman and family man. May God bless you during this sad time.
Butch Joyce
Tom was a great man and an asset to our waste industry. His smile and sense of humor are a legacy. He will be missed and remembered. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the family. God Bless, Michael and all of us at TFC Recycling
I was deeply sad to learn of Tom’s passing. My heartfelt sympathy is extended to Tom’s family, friends and many former Marathon Equipment Company co-workers. I was truly blessed to know and work with Tom for more than 30 years. I have many fond memories of “site visits” with Tom and learning from a true professional. May Tom rest in peace. Tim Lee
My deepest condolences for your loss. I had the pleasure of first meeting Mr. Bailey 15 years ago when I went to work at Waste Management. Whether it was a site survey or just a general question he always knew exactly how to solve the problem. I learned so much, way more than I ever thought I would about compactors!! Mr. Bailey’s presence was always known when he walked into our offices. Even on busy days when he would just pop in everyone would stop what they were doing to chat. I always enjoyed my chats with Mr. Bailey. He will truly be missed! Prayers for each of you to find comfort during this time.
I got to know Tom quite well from my BFI days working as a sales rep and then sales manager. He was always very knowledgeable and helpful on many different applications. I was always surprised about the amount of children he had and of course he lived locally in Springfield Virginia so I saw him mostly on Fridays as he returned each weekend from the road warrior he was. He was also very popular at trade events and always shared what others were doing in the respective markets. We all will miss you dearly Tom
I met Tom in 1998, while working at Mid Atlantic Waste Systems in Chesapeake, Virginia. Back in those days, I was new to the industry and I learned so much about compactors and the industry from Tom. I have worked for TFC Recycling for almost 17 years and would meet Tom occasionally to do site checks and lunch.
What a gem of a man! He spoke very fondly of his family. He loved Marathon and was the “King of Compactors!” I don’t think he has ever met a stranger.
My condolences to your family. Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers!
Dear Mrs Lynn Bailey,
My name is Marianne Taylor and Tom meant the world to me. He helped me to become so very successful in my job as he assisted and taught me the things I needed to know as a sales rep with ARS/Waste Management.
Sending my prayers for healing to you and your entire family.. Tom will be forever in my heart.
Tom was the best and taught us all how to live, work, and truly enjoy relationships. My prayers go out to his extensive family who were blessed to have had him in their lives.
I met Tom in 2005 in a business meeting. From that meeting I was blessed to become friends with Tom. He taught me a lot about our business and was always will to help. I will always consider Tom to be a true friend.
To the family, please know that you are in my prayers.
To be perfectly honest I’m not sure when I first met Tom (I think in 92) but it literally seems like I’ve known him forever and I am sure a lot of you feel the same. With his consistent smile, razor sharp wit, southern gentleman delivery of countless stories and quips, he probably could have made the Blue Collar Comedy tour very successfully, But Marathon Equipment and countless customers such as I were blessed to have Tom’s talents applied to our world of solid waste. He was never too busy to sit down and chat about his customers needs and he always managed to work in some of his highly valued wisdom about life. The world has truly lost a one of a kind and all who were graced with knowing and having him as a friend grieve with the family and hope that they know of our prayers for them for their loss.
I am so very sorry to hear of Tom’s passing, my thoughts and prayers to the family. Tom was always there to help, he seemed to show up just when we had a question or needed his advice. He certainly had his finger on the pulse of the industry. You will be missed Tom,
To Lynn, the extended Bailey family, I offer my condolences and prayers.
I had the pleasure and of working with Tom as a competitor and coworker for over 25 years since the late 80s. Like many, I both respected and genuinely liked Tom.
In his work, Tom epitomized professional relationship selling. He was knowledgeable, responsive, and a true friend to his clients and prospects. In my opinion, Tom‘s secret power was that he took joy in the people he worked with, the industry he served, and the contribution both made to society. Moreover, he was an ambassador of, and a friend to the waste and recycling industry, making the transition into iconic status later in his career.
Tom’s legacy will live on both in his family and his lasting impact on the waste and recycling industry.
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