Herman Taylor Bayless
Herman Taylor Bayless, attorney, 52, died April 14, 2011 in a single vehicle accident near his home in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.
Having accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior as a child, Herman was a lifelong Christian of the Baptist faith. He was the son of the late Hink Bayless and Dorothy Hale Bayless, and was raised in Chattanooga and Fall Creek Falls.
Bayless graduated from The McCallie School, Harvard University, and Vanderbilt University School of Law.
He was preceded in death by his wife Majorie Bayless; father Hink Bayless; grandparents Bridge and Margaret Bolton Bayless, and Herman and Marie Panter Hale; sister-in-law Sue Evans; uncles Robert Ernest Dodson, Jr., Robert W. Hale, T.B. Bayless, Russell Swafford, Glen (Red) Cole, John Pendergrass, and Tom Bayless; aunts Neva Swafford, Bethene Cole, Mary Bayless, Ann Bayless, Norma Jean Hale Green; and cousin Herbert Leighton Hale, Jr.
He is survived by his sons Jimmy (Beth) Gentile, Taylor (Kaitlyn) Bayless, and Daniel Bayless; daughters Victoria and Sierra Bayless; granddaughters Rhyle and Sophie Bayless and Roxie Gentile; mother Dorothy Bayless; brother Howard Bayless; sister Melissa Bayless; aunts Bill Pendergrass, Dana Dodson, Nina (Johnny) Nale, Amy Hale; uncle Herbert (Sharon) Hale; brother-in-law Lance Evans; cousins Wade (Sandy) Dodson, Mike (Leslie) Nale, Mark Nale, John David (Jill) Nale, Jeff (Beth) Hale, Bridgett Bandy, Russell Ann (Jeff) Swafford Talley, T.Y. Swafford, Kenneth (Janice) Bayless, Marty (Jeff) Daniels, Tommy (Beth) Bayless, Glenece Cole, Jeff (Cheryl) Cole, and Dale Cole; niece Teila Bullock; nephews Lance and Donald Evans; and a host of friends, and brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.
A wake for Bayless will be held at the Belanger-Bullard Funeral Home in Southbridge, Massachusetts on Thursday, April 21. A memorial service will follow with Rev. Bob Jackson of the Sturbridge Federated Church officiating.
Locally, visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 26 at the Putman-Reed Funeral Home of Pikeville. Funeral services are Wednesday, April 27 at 2:00 p.m. at the Sampson Freewill Baptist Church, Route 30 in Bledsoe County with Bro. Bill Montandon officiating. He will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Burial will follow at the Beach Cemetery in Bledsoe County beside his wife Marjorie, father Hink and other relatives extending back to his great-great grandfather.
