Mrs. Ida Bell Bailey McClanahan, who lived a good part of her life in the Oakland community of Lauderdale County, passed away at her home on Wednesday, April 7, 2010. She would have celebrated her 103rd birthday on July 13th of this year and will be remembered for the love of her family, her friends, and her church.
The funeral service will be Friday at 3:00 p.m. at the Elkins Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Emerald Bailey and Rev. Dean Olive will officiate. Visitation will be from noon until 2:45 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, Iron City, Tennessee. Mrs. McClanahan is survived by daughters Martha Bowen, Decatur, and Orpah Cox and husband Charlie, Florence; sons James C. McClanahan, Jr. and wife Earline, Muscle Shoals, Othel McClanahan, Muscle Shoals, Thomas Newton MClanahan, Florence, and Johnny McClanahan and wife Nancy, Florence; brother Essel Bailey and wife Juanita, Muscle Shoals; 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jasper and Martha Bailey, and husband of 72 years, James Crayton McClanahan, Sr., a Freewill Baptist minister in our area for 65 years; brothers Tommy Bailey, Joe Bailey, and J.N. Bailey; sisters Annie Wilson, Ella Dodd, and Dorothy Carvalho; and a granddaughter Lisa McClanahan Brackin.
Pallbearers will be Steve McClanahan, Greg McClanahan, John McClanahan, Jr., Eddie Bowen, Alan Bowen, and Charles Cox.
The children would like to thank Tamara Butler for the special care given their mother during her illness.
Please consider memorials to Southern Care Hospice, 410 Wilson Dam Road, Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35661, or to Community Freewill Baptist Church, c/o Mark Butler, 12090 Highway 17, Florence, Alabama 35634.