Michael Howard Bailey Sr.

MICHAEL HOWARD BAILEY SR., 50, of Maumelle, went home to be with his Heavenly Father Aug. 19, 2010. Michael was born Feb. 28, 1960, to Howard and Ruth Bailey in Picayune, Miss. The family moved to Mendenhall, Miss., during his early childhood. He graduated from Mendenhall High School in 1978 and Delta State University in 1982. He married Darlene Wright Bailey on June 3, 1983. They lived in Jackson, Miss., and Little Rock, Ark., early in their married years and moved to Maumelle, Ark., in 1989. Mike accepted Christ as a young boy during a revival at First Baptist Church, Mendenhall, Miss. He served the Lord faithfully his entire life and was active in the Royal Ambassador Program, the Delta State University Baptist Student Union, was a summer counselor at Central Hills Baptist Boys Camp, served as nursery worker, Sunday School teacher, Awana leader, Vacation Bible School and has served as a deacon during his adult life. Bailey has served at Little Rock's First Baptist Church, First Baptist Maumelle, and Cedar Heights Baptist Church in North Little Rock. Mike was a science teacher for the Little Rock School District's McClellan High School. He loved teaching and loved his students very much. He was well known for the McClellan AP Environmental Science classes, which he affectionately called "McApes." He is survived by his wife, Darlene, and his children, Michael Jr., 20, and Emily, 14. He was so proud of his two children and loved them very much. Also surviving Mike are his mother, Ruth Bailey of Mendenhall, Miss.; his sister Laura and husband Greg Bridges of Clinton, Miss.; aunts Mary Weeks and Grace Weeks of Clinton, Miss.; brother-in-law Charles Wright and nephew Chris Wright of Stuttgart, Ark.; and sister-in-law Susan Dempsey and husband James and nephew, Nicholas of Ward, Ark. Preceding him in death are his father, Howard Bailey; his maternal grandparents, Mike and Lola Weeks; his paternal grandparents, Chester and Annie May Bailey; and loving parents-in-law Charles and Lillie Wright. Funeral arrangements are visitation Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010 from 4-8 at Tutor Funeral Home in Mendenhall, Miss., with service being at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 23, 2010 at First Baptist Church in Mendenhall, Miss. Graveside service will be at Lakewood Memorial Park in Clinton, Miss., at 1 p.m. A memorial service will be held at Cedar Heights Baptist Church in North Little Rock, Ark., on Thursday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. A visitation time and refreshments will follow in the fellowship hall. Memorial donations may be made to the ministry education fund at Cedar Heights Baptist Church, 14510 Cedar Heights Road, North Little Rock, Ark., 72118. Online guest book: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.