Bailey, Hersell Odell

Hersell Odell Bailey, 83, of Pearisburg, Giles County, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 20, 2013. Hersell was born in Glen Lyn on July 3, 1929, and was the son of the late Arthur Hampton and Nita Alma Blankenship Bailey. In addition to his mother and father, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Alma Susan Bailey; two brothers, Trelby and Donald Halsey Bailey; and a sister, Chlorene Ruth Bailey Cecil. He was a member of Riverview Baptist Church in Ripplemead. Hersell served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and retired in 1972 after serving 23 years in the United States Navy. He was later employed with the Giles County Sheriff’s Office, retiring in 1990. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 60 years, Ruth Ann Ayers Bailey; three sons, Jerry Wayne Bailey, of Giles County, Danny Steven Bailey and wife, Regina, of Botetourt County, and Barry Dean Bailey and wife, Lynn, of Opelika, Ala.; a daughter, Peggy Jean Bailey, of Botetourt County; two brothers, Arthur Hampton Bailey and wife, Lois, of Rich Creek, and James Gillespie Bailey and wife, Delores, of Montgomery County; grandchildren, Jean Ann Bailey, of Giles County, Angela Marie Tuck and husband, Marshall, of Bedford County, Matthew Arthur Bailey, Jacob Edward Bailey and Rachel Virginia Bailey, all of Opelika, Ala., Ethan Kyle Jones, of Botetourt County, and Clayborn Daniel Bailey and Andrew Hampton Bailey, both of Botetourt County; two great-grandchildren, Ashley Marie Tuck and Bailie Nicole Tuck, both of Bedford County; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and many special friends. Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 24, 2013, in the chapel of Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows with Pastor Shahn Wilburn officiating. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Narrows with Graveside Rites conducted by VFW Post #6000 of Narrows, American Legion Posts #68 of Narrows, #311 of Pembroke and #145 of Peterstown. The family will receive friends at Riffe’s Funeral Service on Saturday, March 23, 2013, from 6 to 8 p.m. The family requests that those sending memorial contributions, please consider the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program, 900 East Main Street, 6th Floor-West Wing, Richmond, VA 23219. The family is being served by Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows, Va., (540) 726-2442, and online at riffefuneralservice.com.