Roy Jackson “Jack” Bailey died on Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, at Merit Health River Region Medical Center.  He was 83.

Born in Baker, La., he graduated from Louisiana State University in 1960 with a degree in journalism.  While attending LSU, he was employed as a full-time Baton Rouge city policeman.

As a student, he was editor of The Reveille, the university newspaper. After graduation, he worked for weekly newspapers in Louisiana before going to work at The Vicksburg Post in 1961 as a reporter and Sunday editor.  In addition, he contributed to the Associate Press.

At The Post, he received awards in writing and photography from the Mississippi Press Association. In 1963, he was employed in the news department of WAFB-Television, Baton Rouge, and in 1964, he served as assistant to the general manager of the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives.

Mr. Bailey returned to The Vicksburg Post in 1967.  Two years later, he assumed the position of executive vice president of the Mississippi Restaurant Association.

Mr. Bailey was hired in 1972 by the Northeast Mississippi Community College, Booneville as instructor in the Hotel-Motel Restaurant Program and served in that capacity for 13 years. While at the college, he earned a master’s degree from the University of Mississippi.

He taught at Chamberlain Hunt Academy, Port Gibson, for five years before joining the vocational faculty at Hinds Community College, Vicksburg in 1991. He retired from Hinds in 1998.

A veteran of the Korean War, he served 32 years, active duty and reserve components rising to the rank of sergeant major.

Mr. Bailey had a life-long interest in theatrics and was associated with a number of theater groups through the years, including the drama department at LSU. He took part in many productions of the Vicksburg Little Theatre and later in the Vicksburg Theatre Guild as an actor in a number of roles, and also directed numerous local productions.

He acted as the villain in Gold in the Hills five years and directed the production from 1967-1969. He portrayed Constable Jenkins in the melodrama alongside his granddaughter, Lindsey, who played Little Tammy.  He received the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Vicksburg Little Theatre in 2011.

He and his wife had roles in the movies “O, Brother Where Art Thou” and “The Ponder Art.” After retiring from teaching, Bailey wrote and published three novels, “Far in the Hills”, “My Love and I” and “Lorena.”

He is preceded in death by his wife, Glenda Deason Bailey; and his grandson Mathew Bailey.

He is survived by four sons, James Bailey of St. Francisville, La., Thomas Bailey of Miami, David Bailey of Little Rock, Ark., and Michael Bailey of Port Gibson; three grandchildren Jonathan Bailey, Alexander Bailey and Lindsey Bailey.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, at Glenwood Funeral Home with the Rev. Billie Abraham officiating. Interment will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Visitation will be Thursday from 9 a.m. Thursday until the hour of service.

Honorary pallbearers will be James Bailey, Thomas Bailey, David Bailey, Michael Bailey,  L. W. “Bump” Callaway, Ray Bottin, Jerry Cook, Easy Biedenharn, Joe Loviza, Martin Pace, Jeff Riggs, Travis T. Vance and Douglas Barlow.