Velma Sally Stokes

Velma Bailey Stokes, age 89, 513 West Watauga Avenue, Johnson City, died Wednesday, January 11, 2006, at the Johnson City Medical Center. She was a Mitchell County, North Carolina native who had lived most of her life in Johnson City. She was a daughter of the late William M. and Dora Alice Reed Bailey. Ms. Stokes was formerly employed at North Side School and retired from ETSU, where she worked in food service for ten years. She was a member of Piney Grove Free Will Baptist Church. Ms. Stokes was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 2108. In addition to her parents, three brothers preceded Ms. Stokes in death. Survivors include her sister, Ruth Bailey Swadley, of Johnson City, and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Ms. Stokes will be conducted 8:00 PM Saturday from the Morris-Baker South Chapel. Rev. Paul Crowe will officiate. Pallbearers will be Jerry Bailey, William L. Bailey, Wayne Bailey, Fred Bailey II, Steve Bailey, and Don Fowler. Honorary pallbearers will be Sherman McInturff, Burdette Renfro, C. W. Smith, Burk Wyatt, and John T. Adams III. Committal services will be conducted 2:00 PM Sunday in Mt. Wesley Cemetery, Telford. Family and friends are asked to meet at the cemetery for those services. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Saturday at Morris-Baker. For those who wish, memorials may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, 212 South Peters Road Suite 105, Knoxville, TN 37923. You may also donate by phone at (800) 283-7800 or on the web at www.arthritis.org.