October 1, 2026
Robert Eugene "Gene" Dailey, age 100, of McDonough, Georgia, passed away on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at his home under the care of Southern Grace Hospice.
Gene was born on November 6, 1925, in Union City, Georgia, to the late Hugh Hobson Dailey and Annie Gaynelle Rainwater Dailey. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Madalia Beard Dailey (2001); his second wife, Sara Burch Dailey (2023); his brothers, Glynn Dailey, Lawrence Dailey, Ed Dailey, Russell Dailey, and Raynard Dailey; and his step-daughter, Leann Miller.
He is survived by his children, Helen Dailey Elrod and Robert Lamar Dailey; his step-son, Jeff Miller; grandchildren, Robert Elrod, Heather Dailey Dean, John Elrod, and Sarah Dailey; five step-grandchildren; eight great-granddaughters; his sister, Marilyn Dailey Shields; his sister-in-law, Sara Dailey Simpson; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
At a young age, Gene accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior and was later ordained as a minister. After graduating from Campbell High School, he worked at C&S Bank where he met his first wife, Madalia Beard. Both later attended Mercer University and were married after their sophomore year.
Gene graduated from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1953. During his seminary years, he pastored eight part-time Baptist churches. He later served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Sparta, Georgia, and Beallwood Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia, until 1968.
From 1969 to 1990, Gene served with the Georgia Baptist Convention in the Sunday School and Brotherhood departments. During his tenure, he played a key role in the Georgia/Liberia Partnership that began in 1984. After visiting Liberia, Gene helped lead the effort to build a bridge in Fahnja, located in the Tewor District, to help several Muslim communities reach markets during the rainy season when a small creek became a dangerous river. Hundreds of Baptist volunteers paid their own way to help build the bridge and share the Gospel. The bridge was dedicated on July 16, 1986, and the work helped lead to the establishment of more than a dozen Christian churches in the region.
In 1987, Gene also helped secure property north of Forsyth, Georgia, for the construction of a Royal Ambassador camp for boys known as Camp KALEO. With the help of many volunteers, eleven log buildings were constructed. Gene spent countless Saturdays working alongside others to build the camp, which has since served thousands of boys by providing both outdoor experiences and opportunities to learn about Jesus Christ. The name KALEO comes from the Greek word meaning "called out."
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