Betty Carter Howell married Daniel Grant "Dan" Bailey, a naval commander in 1944 in New London, Connecticut. In June of 1959, the Bailey's went to Mathews from their home in New London to spend the summer at Betty Carter's house that she had inherited from her parents the previous year. On the night of June 22nd, a dreadful fire destroyed the house – killing Betty Carter, Dan and their two daughters, Melissa Carter Bailey, age 8 and Page Virginia Bailey, age 3. Only their son, Daniel Grant Bailey, Jr., age 14, survived. He escaped by breaking a window and jumping 8 feet to the ground and then running 300 yards to the nearest neighbors for help, his St. Bernard, Barnabus (weighing about 160 pounds), following him all the way. Danny received second degree burns to his hands and was cut slightly from the broken window. Barnabus had to be restrained when the ambulance took his master away to Portsmouth Naval Hospital. Danny was accompanied in the ambulance by Sally Bet Walker Lawson, a cousin discussed later. Her husband, Dunbar Lawson, was a classmate in 1942 of Commander Bailey's while attending the Naval Academy, both of them graduating in 1943. The family was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Commander Bailey with military honors. He was executive officer of the submarine tender, Fulton, based at New London. Danny was raised by his father's sister in Cincinnati, Ohio. He died July 3, 1981 in a VA hospital in San Diego, unmarried, only 36 years old. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery with the rest of his family.
Betty Carter Howell married Daniel Grant "Dan" Bailey, a naval commander in 1944 in New London, Connecticut. In June of 1959, the Bailey's went to Mathews from their home in New London to spend the summer at Betty Carter's house that she had inherited from her parents the previous year. On the night of June 22nd, a dreadful fire destroyed the house – killing Betty Carter, Dan and their two daughters, Melissa Carter Bailey, age 8 and Page Virginia Bailey, age 3. Only their son, Daniel Grant Bailey, Jr., age 14, survived. He escaped by breaking a window and jumping 8 feet to the ground and then running 300 yards to the nearest neighbors for help, his St. Bernard, Barnabus (weighing about 160 pounds), following him all the way. Danny received second degree burns to his hands and was cut slightly from the broken window. Barnabus had to be restrained when the ambulance took his master away to Portsmouth Naval Hospital. Danny was accompanied in the ambulance by Sally Bet Walker Lawson, a cousin discussed later. Her husband, Dunbar Lawson, was a classmate in 1942 of Commander Bailey's while attending the Naval Academy, both of them graduating in 1943. The family was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Commander Bailey with military honors. He was executive officer of the submarine tender, Fulton, based at New London. Danny was raised by his father's sister in Cincinnati, Ohio. He died July 3, 1981 in a VA hospital in San Diego, unmarried, only 36 years old. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery with the rest of his family.
Bio by: Gayle Weiss
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