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Florence “Mildred” Sutton Watson Bailey passed away, peacefully and at home, on Thursday,
July 13, 2023.
Mildred Bailey was born on April 18, 1936, the youngest of Fuzz and Lovie Sutton’s five
children. She spent her early years in the house on Fire Tower Road in Grant and attending the
DAR School. In July of 1953, she married J.B. Watson of Claysville, and the couple started a
family. Following J.B.’s tragic death in 1967, Mildred devoted her life to raising and providing for
her three young children, Rickey, Linda, and Tammie.
Throughout those years that followed, Mildred worked in the Lunchroom at Claysville School
and Boaz Carpet & Yarn and attended all her children’s school functions and sporting events.
When her children were grown and starting families of their own, Mildred found love again when
she met Willie Bailey, a widower, at a community softball game. They married in October of
1982. Mildred not only found a husband, but she also gained an extended family including
Willie’s children Donna, Ricky, Marilyn, and Carolyn. Willie died in 1997.
Family was the most important thing to Mildred, and once she met someone, they became part
of her family. She always thought of others. Every Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Birthday
and Decoration dinner had ‘extra’ guests she invited because she didn’t want them to be alone
on those special days.
For years she rode the RSVP bus to Grant to quilt with her friends, and she was always up for a
road trip to Crow Mountain or a new place to eat. She was a member of Baker’s Chapel Baptist
Church and attended services as long as she was able.
Mildred will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know her.
Mildred is survived by her children Rickey Watson (Donna), Linda Young (Jervis), Tammie
Evans (Danny), Donna Stewart (Bobby), Ricky Bailey (Sherry), Carolyn Cook (Tony), and
Marilyn Champion (Daryel); her grandchildren Heather Green (Eric), Adam Watson (Brandy),
Brandon Evans, Blake Evans (Carly), Dean Stewart (Candy), Lindsey Mason (Nicky), Mary
Grace Stubblefield (Kevin), Clint Champion (Jaimie), Hannah O’Donnelly (Casey), Sonya
Young, and Daniel Starnes (Stephanie); sister-in-law Ann Watson; brothers-in-law Donald
Watson and Edward Bailey; and 13 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband J.B. Watson; her husband Willie Bailey; parents
Hubert “Fuzz” and Lovie Mae Sutton; brothers Paul Sutton and Johnny Sutton; sisters Agnes
Whitaker and Mary Sue Hulsey; and grandson Daniel Bright.
Florence “Mildred” Sutton Watson Bailey passed away, peacefully and at home, on Thursday,July 13, 2023.
Mildred Bailey was born on April 18, 1936, the youngest of Fuzz and Lovie Sutton’s five
children. She spent her early years in the house on Fire Tower Road in Grant and attending the
DAR School. In July of 1953, she married J.B. Watson of Claysville, and the couple started a
family. Following J.B.’s tragic death in 1967, Mildred devoted her life to raising and providing for
her three young children, Rickey, Linda, and Tammie.
Throughout those years that followed, Mildred worked in the Lunchroom at Claysville School
and Boaz Carpet & Yarn and attended all her children’s school functions and sporting events.
When her children were grown and starting families of their own, Mildred found love again when
she met Willie Bailey, a widower, at a community softball game. They married in October of
1982. Mildred not only found a husband, but she also gained an extended family including
Willie’s children Donna, Ricky, Marilyn, and Carolyn. Willie died in 1997.
Family was the most important thing to Mildred, and once she met someone, they became part
of her family. She always thought of others. Every Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Birthday
and Decoration dinner had ‘extra’ guests she invited because she didn’t want them to be alone
on those special days.
For years she rode the RSVP bus to Grant to quilt with her friends, and she was always up for a
road trip to Crow Mountain or a new place to eat. She was a member of Baker’s Chapel Baptist
Church and attended services as long as she was able.
Mildred will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know her.
Mildred is survived by her children Rickey Watson (Donna), Linda Young (Jervis), Tammie
Evans (Danny), Donna Stewart (Bobby), Ricky Bailey (Sherry), Carolyn Cook (Tony), and
Marilyn Champion (Daryel); her grandchildren Heather Green (Eric), Adam Watson (Brandy),
Brandon Evans, Blake Evans (Carly), Dean Stewart (Candy), Lindsey Mason (Nicky), Mary
Grace Stubblefield (Kevin), Clint Champion (Jaimie), Hannah O’Donnelly (Casey), Sonya
Young, and Daniel Starnes (Stephanie); sister-in-law Ann Watson; brothers-in-law Donald
Watson and Edward Bailey; and 13 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband J.B. Watson; her husband Willie Bailey; parents
Hubert “Fuzz” and Lovie Mae Sutton; brothers Paul Sutton and Johnny Sutton; sisters Agnes
Whitaker and Mary Sue Hulsey; and grandson Daniel Bright.
The services were held at Guntersville Memorial Chapel, and Mildred was laid to rest at Free
Home Cemetery in Grant on Sunday, July 16th.
In lieu of flowers, Mildred’s family has asked that donations be made to Shepherd’s Cove
Hospice in honor of the caregivers who made it possible for her to remain comfortable at home,
as she wished.
