Ann Thomas Bailey, 84, of Raleigh passed away on Thursday, September 1, 2022. She was born on December 16, 1937, to the late Katie and Hearst Thomas in Broadway, North Carolina. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James H. Pou Bailey, and her brother, Wiley Thomas.
Ann was an active member of America’s Boating Club formerly known as United States Power Squadrons at the local, district, and national levels. She was the only woman to serve as first lady twice, with Chief Commander Pou Bailey in 1980-81 and Chief Commander Gary Cheney in 2018-19.
She founded the Ship’s Store Committee at the request of Chief Commander Dick Miner and served as its chairman. She served as commander of Raleigh Sail & Power Squadron and District 27. In recent years, Ann Bailey remained active on the Meetings, Ship’s Store, and Social Activities committees and helped at other squadron and district functions.
She enjoyed taking care of her cats, playing tennis, boating, relaxing in the sun, watching Ohio State Football, and eating chicken wings.
She is survived by companion Gary Cheney of Atlantic Beach, NC; son Marty Collins (Dawn) of Julian, NC; daughter Kennetha Warren (Jeff) of Raleigh, NC; grandchildren Kyle Collins (Kelli) of Charlotte, NC; Landon Warren Ferguson (Patrick) of Gilroy, CA; Lindsay Warren and fiancé Jonathan Redd of Raleigh, NC; great-grandchildren Evie Collins, Freddie, Sonny, and Georgia Ferguson; sister-in-law Jean Beal Thomas of Sanford, NC and her family; stepsons James H. Pou Bailey Jr. “Jim” and Edwin Pate Bailey “Ed” of Carteret County and their families.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the United States Power Squadron: the USPS Educational Fund, or the USPS Endowment Fund, or the USPS General Fund at P.O. Box 30423, Raleigh, NC 27622 or to the charity of one’s choice.
