Betty Bailey passed away on September 27, 2026 after a short illness. She was born on February 5, 1935 in Pennington Gap, Virginia. After her marriage she resided most of her life in Hampton and Newport News. She lived at Warwick Forest Retirement Community for the past 18 years. Betty retired from NASA. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star. She was a past Guardian for Jobs Daughters. She is preceded in death by her parents, Brownlow and Beaulah Roller. Her husband James Robert Bailey Sr., her second husband Samuel Sokol.

She is survived by her son James Robert Bailey, Jr. Her Daughter Jennifer Meads (Charles), Her grandsons Shane and Nicholas Meads and her great granddaughters Maggie and Mollie Meads. She is also survived by Samuel’s daughters Rhonda, Ann and Karen.

A graveside service will be held Friday, Oct 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM at Peninsula Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers please just do a kind deed for someone.