Nelle Mae Bailey was born April 6, 1915, in Carnesville, Georgia to William Erskin and Julia Payne Bailey. Nelle was the third child born to William and Julia. Her siblings by birth were Clarence, Elton, Ruth, and Edna. Julia Payne Bailey died from tuberculosis on May 25, 1919. Nelle's father married Fannie Melinda Anderson who was born January 7, 1888. They had two children, Frances and Cornelia. Nelle's parents owned a farm in Carnesville raising crops for the family as well as selling their produce in the town of Athens, Georgia. Nelle often told her daughters of the days of working pulling cotton or corn in the heat and when they were finished they would all jump in the river to cool off. Nelle's birth certificate reflects the spelling of Nelle, but throughout life she spelled her name Nell.

Years later, possibly 1943, while Nell was living in Greenville, South Carolina, she and her girlfriend were walking through Cleveland Park on their way to the movie theater. Before long two soldiers began following them. Soon the four went to the movies together. That became Nell and Ed's first date. While Ed was overseas during World World II they corresponded. Ed kept a small leather bound book in his pocket and wrote lovely words to his intended bride. Their daughters have this book today.

After a long distance courtship Nell and Ed were engaged. Nell was not a Roman Catholic and very much a Southern lady. Despite pleas from his Uncle Ed (who was very active in the parish), the younger Ed married Nell at a ceremony held in the rectory of Blessed Sacrament rather than in the church on March 5, 1946. This was the custom of the time due to the Catholic Church's frowning on interfaith marriages. Nell later converted to Catholicism. Nell moved to Maryland to start their life together.

Nell and Ed were married March 5, 1946 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Baltimore. Nell truly loved her in-laws, Charlie and Therese Horten who showed her so much kindness and love. Over the years she told stories to her daughters of all the wonderful things they did for Nell.

Ed and Nell began their married life in a small apartment at Armistead Gardens in Baltimore City where their first child, Beverly Jean was born in 1949. When their second child Patricia was due in 1951, Ed and Nell purchased a home at 3111 Parktowne Road, Baltimore County. Together they made a lovely home. They planted a very large vegetable garden in their back yard and enjoyed canning and freezing all the wonderful vegetables that they produced. Ed was wonderful with wood working and completed the interior second story of their home and club basement. He also was excellent with brick work and designed and built a fireplace in their basement. When neighbors saw this, he was asked to do the same for them.

Ed and Nell lived in their home until Ed's untimely death. Soon afterwards, Nell decided to sell her home and moved to the Glen Meadows Retirement Community in Hydes, Maryland located in Baltimore County. Nell was active in the community and enjoyed the friends that she made.

Nell died on February 6, 2007. Her funeral Mass was held at St. Ursula in Parkville. She was buried next to her husband Ed at Parkwood Cemetery.


posting from the Evans Funeral Home website (8800 Harford Rd. Parkville, MD 21234)

A funeral liturgy for Nellie M. Horten of Glen Arm will be held 9 AM Friday, February 9, 2007 at St. Ursula Catholic Church with interment in Parkwood Cemetery. Father James Farmer officiating. Family and friends will honor Nellie's life on Thursday, February 8, 2007 from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mrs. Horten died Tuesday. She was married to the late Edmund Charles Horten.

Those left to cherish her precious memories are two daughters, Beverly Long and Patricia Brown; grandchildren, Kimberly, Amanda, Sarah, and Holly; great grandchildren, Albert and Cody; siblings, Frances Hall and Cornelia Bailey; and a host of nieces, nephews, other loving relatives and friends all whom will miss her dearly.