Philip Bates Bailey

Philip Bates Bailey, age 78, passed away at home on March 26, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents, Philip Easton Bailey, Jr. and Jimmie Bates Bailey. He is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Dell Hitchcock Bailey, daughters Natalie Bailey (Dave Eubanks), Melisa English Bailey (Erin English Bailey), and Allison Bailey; grandchildren Noah Eubanks, Linus English Bailey, Lennie English Bailey, Griffin Beard, Jillyn Malone, and Rowan Bailey. Bates is also survived by his sister, Susan Bailey Hite (Jim), nephews Philip Hite, Bates Hite (Aly), and their families as well as Bates’ many cousins.

A native of Dalton, Bates deeply loved his hometown, earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and graduated from Dalton High School in 1964, from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!) in 1968, and the Medical College of Georgia in 1972. He was proud to have served his country as a medical officer in the United States Navy, stationed on the U.S.S. Tarawa, and retired as a Captain following more than 25 years of reserve duty.

Following training at the Yale University School of Medicine and the Mayo Clinic, Bates established his private practice in cardiology in Dalton in 1980. He performed the first cardiac catheterizations and pacemaker implantations in Dalton and tirelessly advocated for bringing state-of-the-art tools for cardiac care to Dalton. The current capacities of Hamilton Medical Center to support angioplasty and open-heart surgery are in large part thanks to him.

Bates valued supporting his community. He served on the Dalton Chamber of Commerce, was Chair of the Board for Alliant Health Care, and Chief of Medicine and Chief of Cardiology at Hamilton Medical Center. He was very active with the American Heart Association and served as the president of its Georgia affiliate board. He was active in the Rotary Club, First Presbyterian Church of Dalton, and ChristChurch Presbyterian.

Bates cared deeply about medicine, and particularly about his patients. In his speech as honoree at the Dalton Heart Ball in 2014, Bates said that his medical goal has always been, “To take care of sick people.” Every patient was equally important to him, and he made sure that each one got the same level of care. It was clear from their gifts of homegrown vegetables, handmade pies, and homemade jams, that he was beloved by his patients. “Your Daddy saved my life,” is something that his daughters have heard many, many times over the years. He particularly loved his time in the cardiac cath lab and deeply appreciated his office staff as well as the nurses, caregivers, lab assistants, and pacemaker representatives he worked with.

He also valued education and travel, keys to opening up new opportunities and new perspectives for himself and his family. He continually learned more about cardiology, and encouraged his daughters and others to take advantage of opportunities to learn more in their fields, from study abroad programs and research to masters and doctorate degrees. Bates’ daughters were always amazed when he would run into someone he knew when traveling. They learned that you’re never really far from home, and they learned that there may always be someone watching what they were getting up to.

Bates loved his family and was grateful that his sister Susan introduced him to Dell. Their 52 years of marriage was one of mutual support, understanding, and seeing the best in each other. Together they traveled the world, going to the Masters golf tournament, attending Broadway shows, taking family vacations skiing and to the beach, and laughing a lot. Bates also loved time with his friends, growing orchids, playing tennis and golf, and cheering for the Dalton High Catamounts and the Georgia Bulldogs football teams.

He lived and loved with his whole heart. He cared deeply and showed his love by showing up for others, whether that was staying late at the office to see every patient, coming to the phone between appointments to answer a homework question, or rearranging his schedule so that he could attend a dance recital, swim meet, or tennis match for one of his girls.

His family would like to thank the excellent care he received from the nurses, doctors, and care teams at Hamilton Medical Center, the caregivers from Barrett’s Home Care Service, and the staff at Northwest Georgia Community Hospice. Additionally, thank you to everyone who has called, visited, and sent prayers. We have all felt your love and support.

The family will receive friends at ChristChurch Presbyterian in the fellowship hall from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm on Saturday, March 30. Funeral services will follow in the sanctuary at 12:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Heart Association or Whitfield Healthcare Foundation.