Penelope Van Dyke Potts Bailey's Obituary
Penelope Van Dyke Potts Bailey passed away peacefully on February 21, 2015 at Baptist Reynolds Hospice House. She was 88 years old. She was surrounded by her devoted family. Penny was born in Memphis, TN on December 15, 1926, to Anne Clifton Van Dyke Potts and Ramsay Douglas Potts. She graduated from Central High School and attended the University of Alabama where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. At the end of World War II she married Sonny Bailey, the love of her life. Penny was an accomplished and loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother and friend who had a unique and natural ability to show her care and compassion for others. She was able to retain a cheerful, optimistic demeanor, even under difficult circumstances. After any encounter with Penny you always felt better about yourself. A talented leader, she served as an active member, Deacon, and Elder of Evergreen Presbyterian Church, as President of Le Bonheur Club, and as a Director in Mary Kay Cosmetics. She had a love of adventure. At age 47 she was proud to complete a strenuous Outward Bound canoeing and camping expedition in Minnesota with women half her age. Throughout that experience and in many situations, she exhibited a gift for motivating others. Passionate about reading, politics, and learning, she had a remarkable ability to embrace and accept the thoughts and ideas of people from all walks of life. Penny was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Edward Oliver Bailey, Jr., her son Jeff Bailey, sisters Anne Lunde and Sue Youmans Whitaker, and brothers Ramsay Potts and Thomas Potts. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Jordan Richardson (Stewart) of Memphis, daughter Cindy Archie (John) of Kinston, NC, and daughter Lydia Bailey (Allen) of Toronto, Canada. She also is survived by grandchildren Harris Jordan (Anna), Ben Jordan, Ashley Bailey, and Mason Bailey, all of Memphis, Tyler Archie of New Bern, NC, Charles Archie (Meredith) of Raleigh, NC, Sophie Kalpin of Toronto, Canada, and daughter-in-law Leslie Davidson. Additional survivors include her brother Steve Potts (Irene) of Chevy Chase, MD, and sisters-in-law, Haleen Potts of Hailey, ID and Ann Bailey of Memphis. Significant in her life was her Potts clan and her many spirited nieces and nephews. Also, her part-time home manager, Celestine Williams, was very dear to us. The family would like to thank her compassionate and dedicated caregiver, Annie McIntire. The family is deeply grateful for the loving and expert care of the staff at Baptist Reynolds Hospice House. A Celebration of Life for Penny will be held at Evergreen Presbyterian Church on Saturday, February 28 th at 1:00. The family will greet friends immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to LeBonheur Club (LeBonheur Children’s Hospital; www.LeBonheur.org); Evergreen Church, 613 University, St. 38107; or Baptist Reynolds House, 1520 West Poplar Avenue, Collierville, Tennessee, 38017.Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119, “Behind the Stone Wall.”
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