Eileen Rene Garrard Bailey, 60, died peacefully Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo. She was born July 7, 1964, to Sandra Van Cleave Garrard and Joseph B. Garrard II. A native of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Eileen had called Tupelo home for almost four decades.
A 1987 graduate of Ole Miss, Eileen received a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She later received a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, also from Ole Miss. For 14 years, Eileen was a reporter at the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. She spent four years working with the Girl Scouts, before fulfilling her dream of becoming a teacher. For the past 19 years, Eileen has been a beloved teacher of history to junior high students at Tupelo Middle School. Eileen, however, did not refer to them as her students, but rather her kids. Eileen found great joy in teaching her kids about history and life.
Thirty-one years ago, Eileen married the love of her life, David Bailey, and the two became the parents of one amazing daughter, Claire Semmes Bailey. A lifelong Episcopalian, Eileen was a member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, where she participated in Episcopal Church Women and Daughters of the King.
A bridge builder, Eileen had a great gift of connecting people from every area of her life – journalism, Girl Scouts, teaching, church, family – whose most treasured commonality remains a shared love of Eileen.
Eileen loved reading, cooking, camping in the family RV, spending time with Maggie the pup, growing colorful flowers to cut for her home and staying connected with a multitude of friends and co-workers who loved her fiercely.
A service Celebrating Eileen’s Life will be held on Saturday November 23, 2024 will be at 11 AM at All Saint’s Episcopal Church located at 608 W Jefferson St, Tupelo. The family will receive friends from 9 AM until service time in the Parish Hall at All Saint’s. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Itawamba County.
She is survived by her husband David; daughter Claire and her partner Davis Arthur; her sister, Julie (James) Frazier; brothers, Joseph “J.B.” Garrard III (Rhonda) and Gordon Vancleave “Van” Garrard (Bethany); nieces and nephews, Katie (Josh) Butler, Scott (Lauren) Garrard, Katie (Lee) Tanner, Stephen (Jade) Garrard, Joseph Vancleave Garrard, Zetta Marie Garrard, Charles Andrew “Andy” Bailey, Chris Bailey, Michael (Sarah) Bailey, Caitlin (Anthony) Golding and Annalise (Gabe) Mahner; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews; her mother and father in-law, Joye and Philip Bailey; and a sisters-in-law, Holly Bailey, Merritt Lee Herring and Melissa Bailey.
Eileen was preceded in death by her parents; an identical twin sister, Kathleen; a brother-in-law, Paul Bailey; maternal grandparents Richard Gordon Van Cleave and Vertalee Bradford Van Cleave; and paternal grandparents, James Garrard and Kathrene Webb Garrard.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or a charity of choice.
