Gail Huffaker Bailey

Gipsy Gail Huffaker Bailey of Tallahassee, Florida graduated to her ultimate Heavenly Home on Friday, May 14, 2021 at the age of 83.  We will miss her joyful smiles, her signature Milky Way cakes, GiGi’s Mac N Cheese and her deep love for family and friends.  Gail celebrated the moments of life in addition to the milestones.
Gail was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on August 27, 1937 and was raised in Alabama with her two brothers Billy and Bobby.  She was the eldest of three children and the first generation in her family to graduate college. Gail earned a degree in Home Economics from Judson College in Marion, Alabama.
Gail married her sweetheart Jack in 1958 and they raised three daughters in Tallahassee - Cheryl, Karen and Kathy.  One of their biggest surprises was the unexpected arrival of baby twin girls when they were expecting one big baby boy...Kathy and Karen’s hearts were beating together. Twins babies were quite a surprise to big sister Cheryl, too.
In 1960, Gail’s first job was a school teacher where she taught multiple elementary grades in one room.  Later, “Miss Gail” owned a home daycare and helped raise more than 20+ school teachers’ babies and preschoolers. She was a nurturer and loved pouring Jesus into children and families. Rocking babies was her special gift.
“Momma” and “GiGi” were two of her favorite titles.  Gail equipped her daughters to be women of faith, nurturing a work ethic fueled with love and celebrating seasons - she decorated life and the lives of others well, especially her girls.
Dance and piano recitals, softball games, graduations, choral/orchestra concerts, high school musicals, weddings - Gail could be found smiling, holding Jack’s hand - cherishing every family moment.
GiGi and Poppy hosted their seven grandchildren every summer for “Cousin Camp” where they attended MusiCamp together at Thomasville Road Baptist Church.  Gail worshiped and served her Lord faithfully at TRBC for more than 45 years.
Gail made sure special meals weren’t limited to holidays. She was a culinary genius who could make homemade chicken salad for hundreds, catered wedding receptions and worked at Thomasville Road Baptist Church for fifteen years cooking Wednesday Night Family Suppers. Gail loved leading the “Kitchen Crew” at TRBC, preparing home cooked meals for hundreds of people.  Gail created a “Family Vibe” in which people could sit around a table, laughing - while their souls and tummies were nourished.
Scrapbooking, sewing curtains for her home, wreath making, ceramics, gardening, cake decorating and sewing Easter dresses for her three daughters to sewing their prom dresses in high school were some of Gail’s creative talents. Gail even made seven bridesmaids dresses for her daughter Karen’s wedding.
GiGi was happiest when her family was sitting around her dining room table enjoying a home cooked meal complete with sweet tea, homemade biscuits and fried chicken. Dominoes often followed while Gail’s spunky sassiness landed her many wins.
Gail cherished creating family moments around the Christmas Tree while always baking each grandchild their favorite cookie including M&M cookies, Snickerdoodles, and Hershey Kiss cookies.
Gail loved her family and friends well with Christ’s unconditional love.  Her laughter and big smile will live on in our hearts as we carry forward her legacy to celebrate Family Moments and love deeply.
Gail is survived by daughters, Kathy Bailey Fox (Richard) of Tallahassee and Cheryl Bailey Lemine (Jack) of Jacksonville, FL - her seven grandchildren - Daniel Head, Benjamin Head, Jonathan Head, Jared Lemine (Jenn), Matt Lemine (Meghan), Olivia Fox Harris (Christian) and Parker Fox. To everyone else, she was “Miss Gail,” but to them she was “GiGi.”
Gail was predeceased by her dear twin daughter, Karen Bailey Head, in 2010 and her late husband Jack Bailey in September 2020, after 62 years of marriage.
The Family will offer Visitation on Saturday, May 22, 2021 from 9:30 to 10:45am prior to an 11:00am Celebration of Life service at Thomasville Road Baptist Church, 3131 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, Florida.
A live stream link will be posted on Faith Funeral Homes’s website at https://www.facebook.com/FaithFuneralHomeInc and Thomasville Road Baptist Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ThomasvilleRoad
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Thomasville Road Baptist Church by using the link www.thomasvilleroad.org/giving -Donate / choose a fund / and click the drop down option to IMO Gail Bailey.