Mrs. Glenda Fay Bailey Autrey August 22, 1945 – March 7, 2012
Bloomingdale-Fay has gone home to be with the Lord after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Fay was born August 22, 1945 to Lenward "Morris" Bailey and Glennie Rea Bragg Bailey both of whom preceded her in death. Fay also joins her paternal grandmother Elizabeth Bailey, her maternal grandparents Clifford and Aris Bragg and Mrs. Blanch Colson, her Aunt Margaret Doyle and her mother-in-law Mrs. Trudie Autrey in Heaven.
Fay is survived by her husband Jimmy "Gene" Autrey of 48 years; their only child, Brandon Gene Autrey, his longtime girlfriend, Jaime Durrance whom Fay considered a daughter-in-law, and Jaime's son, Seth Weeks whom Fay treated as a grandson.
Fay also leaves behind a sister, Julie Ray & brother-in-law, Roger Ray; their oldest daughter, Fay's namesake, Glenda Ray Criswell & her husband, Barry. While Glenda is Roger and Julie's daughter, Fay always referred to Glenda as her niece that was more like a daughter to her. They shared a very special bond as did Fay with Morgan, her great-niece and Garrett, her great-nephew. Whitney, Roger and Julie's youngest daughter shared a love of cooking with Fay and shared recipes wit each other all of the time.
Fay also leaves behind three lifelong friends with whom she started elementary school with and has continued to be best of friends for more than fifty years, Linda Roberts of Savannah, Linda Rogers of Bulloch County, and Shelvie Lewis of Locust Grove. They were more like sisters than friends and have stood by Fay all of these years.
Fay will be truly missed by her church family and friends as she devoted her life to the needs of others. She was a housewife for her entire marriage, a devoted wife and mother. At Ash Street Baptist Church she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Children's Church for over 30 years. She served as Trustee, Secretary and Treasurer throughout the years and was an active Trustee and member until her health no longer allowed her too.
The family will be accepting friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Home at 901 W. Hwy 80 in Pooler, Georgia on Thursday, March 8, 2012.
A celebration of her life will be held at the Ash Street Baptist Church located at 310 Ash Street in Bloomingdale, Georgia where her body will lie in state from 2 until 3 p.m. with the funeral service being held at 3 p.m. with Rev. Carlton Wiley officiating. Music will be provided by Brian & Lisa Foskey and the pallbearers will be Dustin "Dusty" Rhodes, Tommy Hires, Ron Walker, Dan Whitten, E.M. Ray, Kevin Coursey, Matt Metivier, and Curtis "Curt" Parker. Burial will follow at Gravel Hill Cemetery in Bloomingdale.
Thomas C. Strickland & Sons Funeral Homes – West Chatham Chapel – (912) 748-2444