Mary Sturgeon Bailey

Mary S. Bailey, 91, left this world to be home with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, July 5, 2026, after a brief battle with cancer.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 8, 2026, from 2 to 3 p.m. at First Original Free Will Baptist Church with a funeral service to follow at 3 p.m. with burial to follow in Grove Hill Cemetery.

Born October, 28, 1934, Mary was the daughter of Dave and Annie Bertha Scott Sturgeon of Darlington. One of six children, she grew up with her brother Robert in the children’s home in Columbia. She graduated from Dreher High School and moved back to Darlington where she met the love of her life, Robert Charles Bailey Sr.

Fiercely independent, Mary worked in a dime store before working at Nytronics for a short time. Later, she worked for La-Z-Boy assembling recliner footrests for 27 years and 3 months before retiring in 1994.

A lifelong member of First Original Free Will Baptist Church of Darlington, Mary gave her life to Jesus Christ, and her faith carried her throughout her 91 years.

She will be buried alongside her husband and with their first baby boy, Kevin Leroy Bailey.

Besides her husband and first born, she was predeceased by her parents; a brother, Richard Sturgeon; and sisters, Margaret Farmer, Sally Crowley, and Mell Weatherford.

She leaves behind her brother, Robert Sturgeon of Sumter; her children, Charles (Lisa) Bailey and Stephen (April) Bailey; grandchildren, Ashley (Kris) Lambert, Brooke Bailey, and Chase (Kelsey) Bailey; and great grandchildren, Jackson, Kali Rae, Quinn, and Devyn.

She is also survived by her sister-in-law Ruby Windham Bailey of Darlington; nieces, Karen Bailey (Mike) Jordan of Darlington, Sandra Bailey Goodson of Florence, and Joan Bailey (Jeff) Hendrix of Darlington; and numerous other family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in her honor to the church: First Original Free Will Baptist c/o PO Box 441, Darlington, SC 29540.