James Robert Bailey passed away on Sept. 8, 2023, with his wife and two daughters by his side.

James was born on Sept., 17, 1952, in Great Valley, N.Y.  From an early age, he was fascinated by language, people and the natural world.  He loved wandering around town with his friends, reading in the woods and being a big brother to his two sisters.  He earned a bachelor of arts in religion from Houghton College as well as a master of arts in philosophy of religion from Eastern Mennonite Seminary, where he wrote his thesis on Kierkegaard. 

His work life reflected the peripatetic nature of his interests and his working-class background.  At different times in his life, he ran a snack bar, was a night watchman, worked on an assembly line, was a carpenter/roofer, served as a radio disc jockey, managed a CVS store, and owned/operated the Peace Creek Inn, a family motel. 

James’s true calling was in education, beginning with his work as director of an adult literacy program in Clifton Forge.  He went on to serve as a residence life director at Houghton College, dean of students at Tyndale College, and director of the doctoral program in leadership at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School.  Upon relocating to Lexington in 2007, he worked as the marketing director for Hull’s Drive-in, an assistant museum director at Rockbridge Historical Society, but was most passionate about his job as an online instructor for Purdue Global, where he taught courses in ethics, humanities, and professional studies.  He completed his last course for Purdue just three weeks before his death.

In the past few years, while battling serious health issues, James curated several Facebook groups focused on religion, climate change, and health care.  He was also a regular at the R/C State Cinema 3, where he debated the merits of various super-heroes with nephews Quinn and Chad Holmes.  He spent as much time as he could with family, friends, and acquaintances, as he loved to tell stories, learn about other people, and invest himself in relationships, including those with fellow patients at DaVita Dialysis, the doctors, nurses and technicians who cared for him there, and the drivers for RATS who took him to and from the dialysis center.

He is survived by his sister Becky Williams (David), his wife Pennie Ticen, his daughters Alethia White (Ryan) and Autumn Presock (Jake), granddaughters Ariella and Lailah, nieces/nephews David Williams (Mia), Alyssa Kovach (Brad) and James; great-nieces/nephews Edison, Penn, Lincoln, Jacob and Abigail, and too many friends, former students, and colleagues to name.  

A celebration of James’s life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 2 p.m., at the Harrison Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the Rockbridge Area Relief Association in James’s name.