Lewis Edward Bailey was born May 31, 1943, in Waterford, Mississippi, where he lived until he was 12 years old. At 12, his family moved to beautiful land on Highway 7 South closer to Holly Springs.  He grew up surrounded by love from his grandparents, his mother Irene, father Moody, brothers Ralph, Emmett, and Moody, and sisters Bettie Gail and Lorene.               

When he’d  been a young boy at the Waterford school, he had met a pretty little girl named Billie Sewell whose family had relocated from Memphis after buying a lake and church camp near Waterford.  However, Miss Billie soon started attending school in the big city of Holly Springs.  When the Baileys moved from Waterford, Lewis was reunited with Billie at Holly Springs school. Years later, on April 16, 1965, Lewis and Billie were married at First Baptist Church, Holly Springs.

Lewis became an apprentice printer at The South Reporter and later a journeymen printer at the Memphis Pressimeter/ Commercial Appeal. He worked at the paper in Memphis for 11 years.

When the couple found out they were going to be blessed with a little one, they named Stephanie Gail, they moved back to Holly Springs and settled on land between both of their families. For years, Mr. Lewis farmed cotton and then later started Bailey Turf Farm. He was active in Holly Springs, First Baptist Church, and Marshall Academy.  Mr. Lewis was full of pride when his little girl graduated from Ole Miss and later Ole Miss Law.

Although Mr. Lewis had many happy years, his greatest joy came when he became a grandfather. He loved his precious granddaughters, Eliza and Esme with all his heart.

Mr. Lewis had a beautiful long life, although not long enough for those who loved him. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. He is walking and driving again now in Heaven and hopefully getting to check on lots of cows in the beautiful green pastures of Heaven. The family takes comfort in knowing he is enjoying a big reunion with his grandparents, parents, in-laws, aunts and uncles, cousins, old friends,  a beautiful niece, and a great-niece and great-nephew who left our earthly presence way too soon. The family knows he was particularly overjoyed to reunite with his brother Ralph. The celebration in Heaven right now can be felt in the hearts of all those left behind.

Services for Mr. Lewis will be held in the Chapel of the Holly Springs Funera Home on Friday, November 14, 2025, at noon.  A visitation for family and friends will begin at 10:00 am and continue until service time.