Steven Allen Bailey was born on April 25, 1971 in Logan, WVA. He attended Omar Junior High School, Logan Senior High School and graduated from Pikeville High School in 1990 where he led Pikeville High School to their 3rd in a row AA Football Championship Game. He continued his football career at Union College and Marshall University respectfully. He also played for the Charleston WVA Lightning Semi-pro Football team in 94-95 and attended training camps for the Washington Redskins and the New Orleans Saints. Steve was an all-around athlete who excelled in basketball, track and football.
Steve lived in Columbus, Ohio for a time and worked for the City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department as a youth leader and at the Neighborhood House in transportation.
Steve was highly loved and respected by everyone he met whether it was through school, sports, family or friends. People loved being around him because of his positive attitude and because he made everyone feel special in their own way. He was the first to admit he wasn't perfect, but he was always trying to pull perfection out of others through encouraging them in his own unique way; Cameron, Brandyn, Jazmyne, David (Bubby), Zoe and Trevon can certainly attest to this.
South Carolina State Bulldogs Head Coach Murray Garvin attributes a lot of his success to Steve, so-much-so that he plans to dedicate his next 2 college basketball games to the memory of Steve in all media outlets that he converses with.
In times past, Steve's vital signs have been a source of contention in his life but on the day of his transition his vital signs showed perfection; his blood pressure, his diabetes level and his cholesterol level all showed flawlessness and before he laid down for the night he told Lisa he did not feel an ounce of pain. With all that being said, God was surely ordering Steve's steps every step of the way during his transition....
Steve was preceded in death by his grandmothers Betty Early and Maggie Bailey, grandfather George Long, and step-brother Chris Evans. He leaves to cherish his memory his fiancée Lisa Hensley, special grandmother Virginia Starghill, mother Helen Starghill-Taylor (Richard), father Michael Early, step-father Douglas Starghill, Children: Jamil, Trevon, Brandyn and Cameron. Siblings: JJ Bailey (Mandy), Tertia Pickett, Adrian Hampton (Tressie), Donica Early, Brittney Harris and step-siblings Rana Dowdell-Starghill and Ken Evans. Special aunts Diane & Terri Early, uncles Jerry Early and Ricky Early, a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 12 p.m. Tuesday November 20, 2018 at Akers-James Funeral Home at Aracoma. Burial will follow in Highland Memory Gardens at Godby.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the time of the service Tuesday also at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be left at www.jamesfh.com
Akers-James Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.