Mary Clifford Whigham Baell

March 11, 2016

Mary Clifford Whigham Baell, 96, of Bainbridge, Ga., passed away Friday, March 11, 2016 at Memorial Manor.

The funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 14, 2016 at Ivey Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Stephen Webb officiating. Interment followed at Oak City Cemetery. The family received friends immediately following the service. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Bainbridge First United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 541, Bainbridge, GA 39818 or the charity of your choice.

Mary Clifford was born October 16, 1919 in Bainbridge, the daughter of James Gordan Whigham and Mary Elizabeth Spear Whigham. She was a graduate of West Bainbridge High School and held degrees from Georgia State College for Women and Florida State University. She married Henry Clinton Baell in 1940. Mary Clifford was a member of Attapulgus United Methodist Church and later Bainbridge First United Methodist Church. She was an active member of United Methodist Women and the Mary O’Quinn Sunday School Class.

Mary Clifford loved people and especially loved serving people. She taught in Attapulgus and later at Bainbridge High School where she served as the English Department Chairperson. She retired in 1981 as the Director of Decatur County Department of Family and Children Services. Mary Clifford enjoyed playing bridge and reading. She told many stories of trips to Mexico Beach with Mae and Marion Miller and to the North Georgia Mountains with Janie and Frederick Smallwood. She cherished her friends and the times spent making memories.

Survivors include her niece and caregiver, Martha Baell Skipper and her husband, Johnny, of Bainbridge, along with several other nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Mary Clifford was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Clinton Baell, Sr. and her sons, Henry Clinton “Clint” Baell, Jr. and Joe Gordon Baell.