Former divinity school professor Doug Bailey has passed away

Rev. Douglass M. Bailey (“Doug”) died peacefully on November 21, 2025. He was 87. Rev. Bailey joined the Wake Forest University School of Divinity in 2002 and served for nearly a decade as assistant professor of urban ministry.

Following graduation from Washington Irving High School in Clarksburg, W.Va, legendary coach Horace “Bones” McKinney, scouted Doug and recruited him to play basketball at Wake Forest. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University and Virginia Theological Seminary.

A celebration of life will be on December 6 at 11 a.m. at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, 2690 Fairlawn Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27106. An obituary can be found here. Condolences may be shared online at www.salemfh.com.

Each of us is affected by loss in different ways. The Wake Forest community is encouraged to seek support by calling 336-758-CARE (2273) or visiting the We Are Wake website to learn more about resources offered by the University.