Evelyn Marie (Davis) Bailey was born to the late Louisiana (Webb) and Nathaniel Davis, August 21, 1938.  Born prematurely weighing 3lbs. and 2oz.  She went home to be with the Lord on June 2, 2020.  Evelyn spent the first two months of her life in and out of the hospital. Finally, the doctors told her parents, there was nothing more they could do for her. Through the prayers of the saints and the care given her by her parents, her aunts, Exa Hamm, Jeanette Stephenson, and Hattie Smith, God delivered her.

At five years of age, she began playing the piano with one hand; at twelve years of age, she began playing for the praise services with the help of Sis. Marie Nevels and Sis. Karolyn Williams.  She couldn’t reach the foot pedals so they had to put phone books under her. Evelyn got saved in her teens and became a dedicated member of the First Apostolic Faith Church. She served as a church musician, choir director and minister of music for over 60 years.  When her health began to fail, she would only play when needed.  You didn’t have to ask her she would just go to the piano or organ and play. She sang in Gospel Meets Symphony and would play for services at her apartment complex. Evelyn loved making all occasion cards for her relatives and friends.  Her beautiful and sometimes comical verses were a blessing to many.

Evelyn graduated South High School, playing the Viola in the orchestra, and the French horn in the band. She graduated from The Akron School of Practical Nursing, working at Akron City Hospital, St. Thomas Hospital, Bridgepark Nursing Home, and Akron General Medical Center retiring in 1995. She met and married James R. Bailey, Sr. and to this union, 2 children were born.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, James R. Bailey, Sr; and sister, Betty Lou Williams.

She leaves to cherish her memory her children, James R. (Lynn) Bailey, of Akron, OH; daughter, Brenda Kay of Long Beach, CA; grandsons, Brendan Lamonte (Emyko) Bailey, and Randall Jamel Bailey; great-granddaughters, Kylie Jaslene Bailey and Lena Elizabeth Ann Bailey; sisters, Ermanell Blackwell, of Chesapeake, VA, Jeanette Reed, of Akron, OH and Natalie (Gerald) Turner (her devoted caregivers), of Norton, OH; sister-in-law, Christine Hayes, of Long Island, NY; special friends, Thelma, Leon, and Kim Ricks and family, and many nieces, nephews, family, and friends.