Lillian Estelle Whitley Bailey on the Bailey homestead formerly known as the Ames Plantation.
She was married to Henry (pictured above).
This piece of property is located on Bailey Creek in Chesapeake, VA.

Lillian Estelle Whitley Bailey middle
We would appreciate the identification of the other ladies in these photos.

Lillian Estelle Whitley Bailey on right

Taken from the Whitley Book as presented:

" After Frank's (her father) death, Alice (her mother) lived with one of her children in Portsmouth, VA and worked at a box factory, then lived a short time with each of her children until 1926, at which time her son-in-law, Henry Bailey (Lillian's husband) built a small house for her on their farm near Hodges Ferry in Western Branch. She lived there until her death in 1928. She and Frank are buried in Black Jack Cemetery in Como, N.C.

During summer, other members of their families came down on vacation to fish and visit. Always on Sunday, the house was over-run with family, visitors-young and old. It took three and four table settings for everyone to eat so one never would have to take the "old cold tater and wait." Their family was very close knit-even when the children were courting they would bring their boyfriend or girlfriend to the house and the whole family was involved in whatever went on such as strolling around the farm, walking through the woods, or fishing or just sitting around playing their musical instrument and dancing and singing.

The children were very talented in music and voice, probably inherited from Frank Woodward Whitley. They were a family that enjoyed the simple pleasures in life and each other. Many times, there were gathering of the families after they were married for fish frys, or barbeque, playing horse shoes.

The grandchildren will forever remember the stories told them by their grandfather, Henry and the special goodie treats of their grandmother, Lillian. They were grandparents who always found time to stop and answer and explain the questions of their grandchildren.

Henry Bailey died of cancer in 1953 and Lillian Estelle Whitley Bailey died of a coronary blockage in 1961. Both are buried in Olive Branch Cemetery in Portsmouth, VA.

Several pages could not cover the good times, bad times sorrows or the happiness, yet our memories linger on.

Lillian E. Whitley (Peshie) and Henry Lee Bailey were married December 13, 1899 in Como, N. C. ...Lillian's mother and father did not want Lillian to get married, so she crawled out the bedroom window one night and she and Henry Lee ran off to Como, N. C. to get married. Her mother and father were so upset about this that it was over a year later before they would even speak to Lillian. ...

They were the parents of nine children and lived in the Sunbeam, Sands and Newsome area of Southhampton County, Virginia. Henry was a farmer, times were tight, so they moved to Portsmouth, Virginia, then back to Newsome on the Joe Barnes place near Boykins, then back to Portsmouth again.

Henry worked for the Seaboard Railroad and in 1925 they bought a farm on the Western Branch of the Elizabeth River near Hodges Ferry. Research shows this property to be originally land grants to Rober Bowers, 1654, and Thomas Mears, 1649. Old maps state swing bridge called "Tobes" bridge-now called Bailey Creek Bridge. In later years, Henry and Lillian divided their property between their eight living children and later on subdivisions developed. The old home place on the point at Western Branch is still owned by their grandson, Gilbert Bailey.

Henry farmed and not liking mechanical power, stuck to his horse and mule power until his sons took over with tractors.

Lillian grew herbs for her own use, plants and flowers to sell in their florist business and drying of natural flowers was her special hobby. ... Lillian had a special knack of understanding "Mother Nature." She seemed to know when to plant according to the phases of the moon, predicting weather by reading the signs of the animal and insect world. She was of a kind and gentle nature, holding her grandchildren as if they were fragile china. She was always helping family and friends in need."

At the time of this writing, my grandparents still live on the land given to them by his parents.

What I was able to further learn from talking to older family members is that Lillian was a sincere Christian. She was well-known as an herbalist, but because of the superstition of that time period, people snuck to see her at night for natural medicines.

My father told me a story of seeing his Grandmother in the kitchen with her back turned to him. A cat came in and jumped on her back and climbed up to her shoulders where it stayed a while.

When Clint and I went to buy a camper from Dodd in Portsmouth, we were amazed to learn Mr. Dodd remembered my great grandmother and her flower shop. He had very nice things to say about our family.

Of everyone in my family, my great grandmother, who died before I was born, is the one I feel the most connection with because of our similar talents and interests. I did not learn about her interest in plant medicine until after I had already began my studies to become a certified herbalist.

It is amazing to me at how similar our lives are even though we never met and lived generations apart.