Braxton Bailey, Iii

Braxton Richmond Bailey, III “Brack” was born November 15, 1937.  Son of Braxton R. Bailey, Jr. “BR” and Nancy Edith Mashburn Bailey, he is survived by his wife, Judith Coe Bailey “Judy”, his college sweetheart with whom he had been married 59 years and three daughters, Carole Bailey Folmar of Advance, Debra Bailey Mitchell (Steve) of Athens, Georgia, and Krystal Bailey Pennington of Wilmington.  Also surviving are nine grandchildren: Bailey Anne Folmar; David Paul Folmar, III; Paige Elizabeth Folmar; Braxton Richmond Folmar; Sophia Louise Mitchell; Ada Lily Ruth Mitchell; Phoebe Jude Mitchell; Avery Dean Pennington; Cade Thomas Pennington and one brother, Allen Mashburn Bailey.  Brack was a native of Davie County and graduate of Shady Grove High School in Advance (1956) and Pfeiffer College (1960.)  He was an outstanding athlete in high school and college to include All-State collegiately in 1959 and 1960.  He signed professionally with the Los Angeles Dodgers upon graduation from Pfeiffer, where he was also Student Body President.  Brack played professionally with the Dodgers and Cincinnati organizations for six years, retiring in 1966 from the Dodgers AAA affiliate in the Pacific Coast League.  Brack was Minor League Player of the year in the Alabama-Florida League in 1961, an All-Star player in the Sally League in 1962 and Player of the Year in the Texas League in 1964.  He cherished playing on the National Championship Team in Nicaragua in 1963 and always told of wanting to forget his major league game in the spring of 1963.   After retiring from baseball, he moved to Winston-Salem and went to work for Wachovia Bank and Trust and later served as Regional, District and Southeastern Manager of Pony Express Courier until his retirement in 1997.  Never playing baseball again, Brack soon picked up slow pitch softball, with his senior softball teams winning several NC state titles.  Brack continued playing softball until the age of 80. Playing with younger players was one of his joys. A member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Winston -Salem since 1965, Brack served in various capacities with the church over the years.  Upon retirement, Brack moved from Clemmons to Bermuda Run where he returned to the Yadkin River, one of his loves. In his retirement years, he authored several poems, a book entitled “Growing Up in Advance,” and enjoyed collecting data on his family tree and their migration to the “Forks of the Yadkin” since 1750.  Home for him was looking from the deck down onto the Yadkin River.  Although traveling to over 80 countries during his lifetime, he said the most beautiful view was from his deck onto the Yadkin River during the North Carolina seasons.  Brack was a member of the Davie County High School Hall of Fame, Pfeiffer College Hall of Fame, and Winston-Salem Baseball Hall of Fame.  However, Brack will be most remembered for his faith, giving nature, kindness, and the love of his wife, brother, and family.  A graveside service will be held 2:00 PM Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at Advance United Methodist Church Cemetery by Rev. Joel Key and Pastor Angel Christ.  The family will receive friends following the service.  Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com