Rev. Dr. Douglass Moxley Bailey III

1938 - 2025

Rev. Dr. Douglass Moxley Bailey, III

May 29, 1938 - Nov 21, 2025

Douglass M. Bailey ("Doug") died peacefully on November 21, 2025. He was born May 29, 1938 to Douglass Moxley Bailey and Marjorie Holden Bailey.

Doug grew up in Clarksburg, W.Va. Following graduation from Washington Irving High School, legendary coach Horace "Bones" McKinney, scouted Doug and recruited him to play basketball at Wake Forest University. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University and Virginia Theological Seminary.

Following his ordination in the Episcopal Church, Doug served at: Zion Episcopal Church, Charles Town, W.Va.; Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Parkersburg, W.Va.; St. John's Episcopal Church, Hagerstown, Md.; and Calvary Episcopal Church, Memphis, Tenn.

It was at the historic Calvary Church located in the heart of Memphis, after having lost over 1000 members following the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, that Doug embraced the hard work of rebuilding with grace and courage. He called the church to stand up and for justice, compassion, and hope. His leadership was marked by a steady commitment, building bridges across lines of race, class, and faith traditions. He formed ministries for the homeless and those struggling with addiction. He created a counseling center, a teen jobs program, an AIDS ministry, and a burial ministry which allowed all to die with dignity as well as a National Chapter for Integrity. Under his prophetic leadership Calvary Church became a sanctuary and safe place for all God's people.

In 2002, when Doug accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Urban Ministry at the new School of Divinity at Wake Forest University, he and Carolyn, wife and high school sweetheart, moved to Winston-Salem and relocated the non-profit Center for Urban Ministry, Inc. of which he was founder/president. His work as a professor shaped countless students through courses such as "Radical Jesus, Radical Justice." His teaching was grounded in the belief that the Gospel is most truthful when lived bravely. The Center for Urban Ministry hosted the national "City of God for American Cities" conferences in partnership with Cathedral College (formerly College of Preachers), Washington National Cathedral. It served as a collaborative resource for clergy and laity of all denominations.

Doug was a long-time member of the Board of St. George's College, Jerusalem; Board and Fellow at Cathedral College, Washington, D.C.; founding member of the Board of the Institute for Dismantling Racism, Inc.; Presiding Bishop Appointment to Brazil/USA Bilateral Commission; and, member of the Giannini Advisory Board, University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Honors and awards include: Distinguished Alumni Award, Wake Forest University; Doctor of Divinity, Virginia Theological Seminary, and Doctor of Divinity, Rhodes College, Memphis, Tenn. In 2018, Doug and Carolyn were recipients of the Giannini Award, University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Doug is survived by his wife Carolyn Lawson Bailey; their three children, Brad Bailey, Margie Bailey (Keith Burke), Britt Bailey (Shawn Nakoa); and daughter-in-law Christine Bailey; beloved grandchildren, Maddie Lynch (Cannon), Holden Bailey, Dawes Sutton, Doug Sutton, Britt Sutton, and Tatum Bailey. He was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings Beverly Chinnis, Connie Casto, and Gary Bailey.

A celebration of his life will be on December 6, 2025 at 11 a.m., St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 2690 Fairlawn Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27106. In lieu of flowers, suggested memorial contributions may be made to the Doug Bailey Urban Ministry Fund DSS75 (School of Divinity), Wake Forest University Office of Advancement, P.O. Box 7227, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, or St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 2690 Fairlawn Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27106. Condolences may be shared online at www.salemfh.com.

Salem Funeral & Cremation Service

120 S. Main St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101