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Sis. Candasie Bailey was called home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at Our Lady of the Angels Hospital in Bogalusa.

Candasie Bailey was born to the late Agie and Ida Gatlin in McComb, Miss., on Aug. 19, 1932. She attended Rose Hill School in Mississippi.

She accepted the Lord as her personal Lord and Savior at an early age and was baptized at Pink Hill Baptist Church.

As a youth, she enjoyed playing basketball. Her love of gospel music was instrumental in her meeting the love of her life, the late Rev. Dr. Tom Bailey Jr., who was a member and manager of the Silver Leaf Gospel Singers. They were married 62 and one half years. To this union was born six children. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother who loved cooking and sewing. She faithfully served as a devoted partner and wife to her husband as first lady of several churches.

She leaves to cherish her precious memories: four children, Daisy (Edward) Shepard of Hammond, Carolyn Butler of Fort Worth, Texas, Shelia (Charles) LeFlore of Baton Rouge, and Michael (Martha) Bailey of Atlanta, Ga.; 13 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and a host of family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Dr. Tom Bailey Jr.; two sons, Tommy and Donald; her parents, Agie and Ida Downs; a brother, Willie Gatlin; a grandchild, Tenika Shepard; and a great-grandchild, Noah Taylor.

A drive-through viewing will be held on Thursday, March 25, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Crain and Sons Funeral Home in Bogalusa.

The funeral service will be private. Crain and Sons Funeral Home are in charge of arrangements. Sign the guestbook online at www.crainandsons.com.