Delia Lois Bailey Rose|
Lois Bailey Rose
Delia “Lois” Bailey was born May 24, 1930, and died June 18, 2009. She married Donald Glenn Rose on Dec. 11, 1953.
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| Lois’s children with Donald Glenn Rose |
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| Donald Glen Rose Jr. |
| Ronald Lynn Rose Nov. 16, 1960-Dec. 6, 1961 |
| Tonya Dawn Rose Crocker |
Courtesy of Stancil Reunion Archive |
Delia Lois Bailey Rose, of the Tempy Ann Branch, the youngest daughter and eighth child of Radford and Delia Hill Bailey, was born May 24, 1930. Lois, as she was called, was the granddaughter of Tempy Ann and Fred Hill.
Lois was delivered by Dr. Powell of Middlesex. She was the only child with red hair. Later her hair turned a pretty brown.
Lois grew up on a farm managed by her widowed mother. Lois was just 5 when her father died at 49 years old of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1935. Even at this tender age, she was expected to work the fields, hand tobacco, and pick cotton. Her older brother and sisters kept the family's carbon light plant operating, the telephone line operating and moved the outhouse when necessary.
Lois learned to drive a car as a teenager. Lois attended Stancil's Chapel Free Will Baptist Church. Her church home, in later years, was Union Chapel Free Will Baptist Church.
Lois was only 13 when she was forced to quit school and look after her mother Delia, crippled with arthritis. Lois yearned to be the first of her siblings to complete high school and vowed to reach her goal, not sure how or when.
Lois had plenty of self-confidence. Her first job was as the snack bar manager at Woolworth's in Raleigh. She demonstrated competence from the start.
Lois met and fell in love with Donald Glenn Rose, son of Marvin and Bessie Barnes Rose. They were married on Dec. 11, 1953, by a magistrate in Wilson, N.C.
He was born July 15, 1933, in Johnston County, North Carolina.
Donald joined the Air Force and then transferred to the Army. This meant many moves for the family. He served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Lois visited him in Hawaii. Her oldest son Donnie was born in Bangor, Maine. Lois was back home in North Carolina when son Ronald was born. Donald was transferred to Germany and Lois moved with him. Donnie attended school there. Tonya was born at Fort Bragg. The last move was to Tennessee. In 1976, Lois returned to Johnston County, settling on Crocker's Nub Road. This was close to her roots and near many of her sisters and brothers.
Lois started collecting china cups and saucers from foreign countries while stationed overseas. Later, she began collecting rooster-related items.
Over the years, Lois shared her life with several dogs; Rusty, Sebastian, and Damien, and a cat named Butterball. Birds and squirrels knew they would find tasty treats in her yard. She found their antics entertaining.
Lois loved NC beaches; favorite family vacation spots included Holden and Topsail beaches. Holden Beach is one of the barrier islands. Topsail Beach is on Topsail Island near Wilmington.
Lois was a gifted seamstress. She made and expertly altered clothes. Lois had an eye for fabric and sewed curtains for her home. Tonya marveled at her mother's ability and had to admit sewing on buttons was a challenge enough for her. Lois recognized that Tonya's talents lay elsewhere. She encouraged Tonya to let her do all the alterations and hemming.
Lois held quilting bees on her back porch. Sisters Sudie and Rector joined her. Lois gave Tonya one of her quilts.
Music was important to Lois. She loved singing and playing the piano with older sisters Rector and Sudie. Both she and Rector had pianos. Three-year-old Tonya showed a keen interest in the piano. Rector fostered this interest by teaching her to play.
Lois was partial to Southern and Bluegrass gospel music. She appreciated the PBS Mountain Stage shows.
Lois grew up tending a garden. When she returned to Johnston County, Lois planted a large vegetable garden, the envy of many of her siblings. It produced such a bounty that Tonya teased Lois saying, "Now mama, don't use that Miracle Gro, keeping this garden picked is killing me!" Together with Tonya, Lois canned and froze vegetables. Home-canned tomatoes were Tonya's favorite.
Lois was one of those old-fashioned cooks who made everything from scratch. One of her specialties was Chicken Pastry, Donnie's favorite. Eventually, Lois realized Donnie and Tonya would only eat her chicken pastry! She set about teaching Tonya to make chicken pastry. Tonya spent years perfecting it. Just last year, Donnie told Tonya that hers was better than their mama's. Lois beamed with pride! Tonya's favorite meal was boiled cabbage with spring onions cut up and soaked in vinegar, ham hocks, and the family secret cornbread in the oven! Perfect gravy is a challenge for the most seasoned cook and Lois did it with ease. Tonya is close to getting it right.
Lois and Donald separated and eventually divorced.
Donald died at 73 on May 12, 2007, at his home of Steel Bridge Road. He is buried in the Bailey Family Cemetery on Old Bailey Road near Middlesex.
Lois realized a dream when she earned her GED from Johnston Community College. She worked at the Raleigh DMV as a title examiner, until she retired in 1995. Lois had been looking forward to spending more time with family and friends, but shortly after retirement, realized she really enjoyed working. Lois worked for JR Tobacco Outlet in Selma until she was 72. Both a mild stroke and heart problems prompted the second retirement.
Lois was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2003. She was treated at Duke University Hospital in Durham, N.C. Lois had periods of remission only to be followed by a resurgence of cancer.
Lois died June 18, 2009, at the Carrol S. Roberson Hospice Center in Fayetteville, N.C., after battling cancer for six years.
She is also buried in the Bailey Family Cemetery.
Lois leaves behind a son Donald Glenn Rose Jr. of Middlesex and a daughter Tonya Dawn Rose Crocker and husband Tracy of Kenly; a sister Sudie Bailey Sullivan of the Brian Center in Wilson and brother Fletcher Bailey of Middlesex; nieces Ella Narron Everette, Hilda Johnson Aldrich, Eloise Bailey Edwards, Jeanette Bailey Hawley, Sandra Bailey Benson, and Delia Bailey Wagner; nephews Bruce Narron, Willis Narron, Albert Johnson Jr., James Johnson, Charles Johnson, Bobby Davis, Billy Ray Sullivan, Archie Wayne Bailey, and Johnny Bailey Jr. plus many cousins.
Lois was preceded in death by son Ronald Lynn in 1961. He died of bronchial-pneumonia and gastroenteritis when he was just over a year old; siblings Annie Bailey Narron, Esker Bailey Johnson, Sallie Bailey Davis, Rector Bailey Boykin, Archie Bailey, Bill Bailey; nieces Gladys Narron Liles Alford, Evonne Narron, Lucille Johnson, Linda Johnson Davis, Edith Boykin, Joan Boykin Mosley, and Claire Bailey; nephews Rexall Narron, Wallace Narron, Rayford Davis, and Redger Jackie Boykin Jr.
Important life lessons Lois taught Tonya; to have faith in God and Jesus Christ; to never let anyone walk all over you; to be strong and proud; to demonstrate your love by little things; not to take love for granted; and to freely give those hugs and kisses!
Lois taught Donnie that "If you believe half of what you see and none of what you hear, you'll be fine." She also taught the importance of family time, playful joking and laughter.
Lois left a legacy of love and faith. Her smile lit up a room and warmed the coldest heart. Lois lived her faith and taught by example to place others' needs above her own; to be a devoted mother, sister, friend, and child of God. Her final words were "I love you, too."
— Renn Stancil Hinton, daughter of George Ralph Stancil