Funeral services for John Glenn Bayless will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Smithdale, MS at 11:00 AM with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday, August 8, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Saturday, August 9, 2025, from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM. Bro. Brandon Blackwell will be officiating the services, with Franklin Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. John Glenn Bayless, 63, of Meadville, MS, passed peacefully from this life on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at Merit Health in Natchez, MS with his wife by his side.

Born on April 5, 1962, in Charleston, West Virginia, John was the son of Garnett Bayless and the late Joseph Donald Bayless. He was a 1980 graduate of Buffalo High School in Buffalo, WV, and later earned his degree from Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson, MS, in 1989. He began his career at Frito Lay in Jackson, MS, before returning to Meadville, where he worked as a teaching assistant and bus monitor at Franklin County Schools.

John's life was centered around family, faith, and service. He adored spending time with his family; nieces, nephews, and especially his twin grandchildren, Ellis and Ellie Shirley, who brought endless joy to his life. Affectionately known as "Uncle John", he extended his heart and home to many children beyond his own family, always ready with a kind word, a funny joke, or heartfelt advice — often asking, "Do you want to hear the high road or the low road?"...but he always chose the high road.

John was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and made his public profession of faith by getting baptized with his daughter Jane in 2012. He faithfully served as a Sunday School teacher and worked with the youth group, sharing his love for Christ and teaching the Gospel.
John loved football and was a proud West Virginia Mountaineers fan. He enjoyed music of all kinds and loved to sing along, even if he had to make up his own lyrics. Much like his father, John had a passion for genealogy– which he shared with his brothers. He was the definition of "Mr. Fix-It," and could be called at any moment for help on a variety of projects or issues... and you knew he was on his way with a smile.

John was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Donald Bayless; his sister, Cindy Bayless Neal; and his brother-in-law, Randy Hevener.

He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Eleanor Filbert Bayless; his daughter, Eleanor Jane Bayless, and her fiancé Parker Shirley; his cherished twin grandchildren, Ellis Glenn and Ellie Blair Shirley; his beautiful mother, Garnett Bayless; brothers Joseph Bayless II (Alley) of Harrodsburg, KY, Bob Bayless (Brenda) of Alum Creek, WV, and James Bayless (Mandy) of Brookhaven, MS; sisters Karen Hevener of Grove City, OH, and Melanie Brown (Cass) of Liberty Hill, TX.

Nephews will serve as pallbearers: Adam Hevener, James Robert Bayless, David Brown, Ryan Brown, Eli Bayless, Tre Baker, Andrew Stewart, and Levi Filbert.

Honorary pallbearers include his brothers Joseph Bayless II, Bob Bayless, James Bayless, Robert Filbert III, Don Neal, Cass Brown; nephew Joseph Bayless III; friends Patrick Davis, Chris Zacharias; the late Bro. Marvin Howard (pastor); the late Randy Hevener (brother), and the late "Joe" Bayless (father).

John's life was one of faith, service, and love — a legacy that will live on in the lives he touched.