Thomas was the son of Horry Bailey and Ludema Jane Lambert. He married Mary Edna Morgan.

Yesterday afternoon, the first wreck in which a passenger train figured, and which there were persons sustaining injuries, which had been noted on this division of the Norfolk & Western for a long time occurred. The dead and injured are: T.M. Bailey, fireman, of Bluefield, killed... The accident occurred on the Tug Fork branch, near the Tug Fork tower, west of Welch ... Thomas M. Bailey was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Horry Bailey, of upper Oakhurst Avenue, pioneer citizens of this city. He was born and reared at the old Bailey home place, in South Bluefield, and was aged thirty years. The deceased had been employed by the Norfolk & Western for the past ten years, having worked three years on the local yards before going on the road as a fireman, in which capacity he had worked for the past seven years. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and was well-known in Bluefield and over the Pocahontas Division. He was regarded as one of the best men in the brotherhood and ranked among the next to be promoted. Besides his aged parents, he is survived by his wife and two children, five brothers and four sisters - Charley P. Bailey, S.J. Bailey, Albert H. Bailey, Frederick H. Bailey, and Easley Bailey, all of this city; Mrs. G.A. Butt of Eggleston; Mrs. A.M. Lambert, of near Portland, Oregon; Mrs. Mary S. Lambert of Crumpler; and Miss Mattie Bailey of Bluefield. Mr. Bailey lived with his brother, Charley P. Bailey, on South Bland Street. The remains will be brought to Bluefield this morning. At a late hour last night, the funeral arrangements had not been completed.
(Obituary from "Bluefield Daily Telegraph," Bluefield, West Virginia, Sunday, August 29, 1915, pages 1 and 6.)