Bailey Legacy
For Stella Williams Bailey '69, '71 of Calhoun, Ga., attending a UGA home game is a family reunion of sorts.
Stella is married to William (Bill) Bailey '69 Political Science, '71 JD, whom she met while a student. Her family is loaded with three generations of UGA alumni who are die-hard Bulldog fans.
Stella majored in Family and Consumer Sciences and then earned her Masters degree in Family and Child Development. She now heads up her own business as a professional speaker and personal development consultant. She has been the keynote speaker for numerous events including the state Chamber of Commerce and leads seminars and workshops all over the state. She has written a children's book, "Confidence is Cool."
When asked to share information about her family and the UGA connection in detail, this is what Stella wrote:
"My grandfather and grandmother Henry and Jeffie Whelchel had five children. As parents, they valued education. My grandfather was a farmer and my grandmother taught at Andrew College before she married my grandfather. She was one of a few women in Georgia to serve on a local board of education in the 30's and 40's.
"At one time my grandparents had three children in college at the same time. Four out of the five are University of Georgia graduates. One son, Henry Whelchel, Jr. received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy and had a long and successful career in the Navy.
"My mother, Mary Jeff Whelchel Williams '44 BSHE, is the oldest of the five. Mama worked a little while for Georgia Power before marrying my dad, Charles C. Wlilliams, Sr (Presbyterian College) when he returned from World War II. She has been a full-time homemaker and supportive partner in the family farming business.
"Mama turned 84 on August 10, 2007. All three of her children and two grandchildren are UGA graduates. Three generations are Family and Consumer College alumnae.
"While at Georgia, I (Stella) was one of the first orientation leaders and later worked for the State of Georgia as a Child Development Consultant for The Appalachian Child Care Project before atarting my own business in 1984. We have lived in Calhouon where my husband Bill practices law since 1972.
"Our son William D. Bailey, '97 Speech Communications, is president of Planter's First Bank in Perry, GA. He is married to Leigh Willis Bailey (Valdosta State). Both her parents, Ed '66 and Karen Wilolis '71 are Georgia graduates as well as her sister, Laura Willis Dunaway'73. William and his brother Palmer Bailey (Piedmont College) have attended UGA football games since they were small children. They now have season tickets of their own and are in Sanford Stadium every Saturday the Bulldogs play there. William and Leigh's daughter Julia Caroline Bailey who is three-years-old also attends.
"My brother, Charles C. Williams Jr. '72 Ag Economics, manages the family farms in Cordele, GA. He is married to Debbie Williams (Auburn) and their daughter, Elizabeth Williams, graduated from UGA in 2005 with a bachelor of sciencie in agriculture. She recently completed her Masters in Nutrition - Family and Consumer Sciences, 2007, making the third generation of our family to graduate from the school of Family and Consumer Sciences. Elizabeth worked at the Vet School as a graduate assistant and graduated with a 4.0 average.
"My sister, Nancy Williams Vason'77 ABJ, was the first woman ever tapped for Blue Key. She met her husband, Hamp Vason '75 BS at UGA. He later went to Emory Dental School and practices in Atlanta where Nancy is a consultant. They are huge football fans as well.
"My aunt, Claire Whelchel Jameson '46 BAED, is a retired school teacher who taught and lives in Sumter, S.C. She is an avid Georgia sports fan and enjoys watching games on television. Her daughter, Julie Jameson, '79 BA physical education is a teacher, coach and athletics director at Morgan County Middle School in Madison, GA.
"My uncle, Alvin C. Whelchel '49 BS Agricultural Engineering (deceased) , farmed and owned Whelshel Implement Company in Cordele, GA. His daughter, Genger Whelchel Handley received her master's degree from UGA.
"Another uncle was George M. Whelchel '52 BS Agricultural Engineering (deceased) farmed the family farms with his two sons Stewart and Steve Whelchel who attend football games with their children when possible.
"All my family, now in the third and fourth generation, are proud of their UGA heritage and can be found having fun together every Saturday when the Bulldogs take the field."
Claude McBride '55, former UGA Alumni Association Tour Director is a veritable repository of campus lore and is now assisting us in writing legacy stories such as the one above. If you have an interesting legacy story please e-mail Claude at cmcbride@uga.edu.
