Obituary of Geraldine E. Bailey

Geraldine Ethel Bailey, aged 94, received her angel wings while surrounded by family on Sunday evening, November 29, 2020 at Cooper Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. Geraldine, affectionately known as Gerry, Mommy, Grand Mom Gerry, and GG, was born on November 14, 1926 in Riverside, New Jersey. She was born to the late Henry and Mamie King. Grand Mom Gerry attended grade school and high school in Riverside, New Jersey. Grand Mom Gerry was the youngest of her four siblings. As many knew, she was closest to her older sister Katherine, affectionately known as Mom-Mom or Fish. Over the years, Grand Mom Gerry resided in Riverside, Delran and Palmyra New Jersey before settling in Camden, New Jersey. She was a forever homemaker, and a heck of a great cook who loved to make everyone's favorite dishes, including her famous fried chicken, ribs, spicy macaroni and cheese, collard greens, neck-bones and beans and pig-feet, just to name a few. Growing up, Grand Mom Gerry had love for music and singing. She loved to listen to gospel, opera and R&B music. Some of her lifelong favorites included, Take my Hand Precious Lord sang by Mahalia Jackson, Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Italian opera, Pagliacci, Fran Shubert’s Ava Maria and Gladys Night and the Pips’ Mid-Night Train to Georgia. Grand Mom Gerry was also known for her love of world history and her ability to recount historical events, while providing names and dates with precision. GG’s spirit was warm, comforting and inviting to all who knew her, even those meeting her for the first time. No one was ever a stranger. Grand Mom Gerry set the tone for communal family, even if you weren’t a blood relative. Mommy Gerry, as she was known to her grands, was always available to babysit without hesitation. Grand Mom Gerry was simply a joy to be around. She often shared stories which chronicled her spicy life. Her stories (known as the Red Bandana Chronicles) would leave you roaring with laughter and eyebrows raised. There was never a visit without her infectious laugh. However, one could not confuse Grand Mom Gerry’s kindness for weakness. She was also known for her biting wit when addressing those that needed a “little extra guidance” to the truth. In her later years, she loved to take long rides, listen to music, eat goodies, pose for her Facebook pictures, watch Law and Order, old Cowboy flicks, Family Feud and to reminisce about her time spent with her family and friends. Grand Mom Gerry was quick witted and feisty until her fading moments. She will forever be missed. We are blessed with beautiful memories …until we meet again…. Geraldine is survived by daughters, Tommi Morgan (Marshall), Antoinette Johnson (Gary), Robin Turner, Roxanne Yates (Doug), Stacy Turner, Danielle Bailey, and Deborah Olusa. Grand Mom Gerry had 45+ grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren and Niece Eartha Clarke, Cousins Nona Baker, Florence Della Vayne, Arnold Lee Scott, Denise Scott, Ilectra Nathaniel Scott-Cook, Great Nephew Stephen Pina, Nicky Nickens. Great Niece Sheila Artis and a host of other nieces and nephews. She was truly the matriarch of this family and lived a long and gracious life. Grand mom Gerry was predeceased by her four siblings; brothers, Lee King and Albert Pina, and sisters, Jean King, and Katherine Nickens and by her sons Sputnik Dove, Arthur G. Hutt, and Roger K. Dove (Dusty).