Josephine Pietrina Sciarrotta Bagley, known lovingly by others as "Honey," "Pina," "Nana," "Grams," "Jody," "Jo-Jo" and "Jo," died on Tuesday, December 24, 2024. She passed away peacefully in her sleep while under the care of the Georgian Lakeside assisted living community in Rowell, GA.

Born June 1,1931 in Trenton, NJ, Josephine was one of four children. She was preceded in death by her Italian parents, Niccolò Joseph Sciarrotta and Maria Stella Giambrone Sciarrotta, brothers, Joseph and Peter Sciarrotta and sister Stella Sciarrotta Taylor (Bill), sons George David Bagley (Fran), Peter Joseph Bagley (Evans) and her beloved cock-a-poo Honey Escarole Bagley.

Josephine was one of the first women in her family to get a college degree. She attended a private all-girls school, Chestnut Hill College in Pennsylvania, where she obtained a degree in English. It was there that she met her late husband, Harold E. Bagley "Buddy" at a school dance. Without ever having met Buddy, she glanced over to her best girlfriend Marge and said without a doubt, "See that tall, good looking blonde over there? I am going to marry him." The rest is history!


Since Buddy was in the Air Force, the family moved all around world, living in the Panama Canal Zone, Trenton, NJ, Goldsboro, NC, Savannah, GA, Reno, NV and Montgomery, Al, having produced children in all those places. After 22 years of service, Buddy and the family finally settled in Waycross, Ga near his home community of Bickley, Ga. In addition to raising her seven children, Josephine was a high school English teacher. Buddy tragically passed away at age 46 due to leukemia. Josephine was left to raise her family on her own, and for the next 50 years of her life, she did so lovingly and gracefully.

Josephine was loved and adored by many in her community. Many remember her for her love of FSU football and Bobby Bowden; her keen Jeopardy, Trivia, and Scrabble skills; her spunky sense of humor and her dedicated faith to the Catholic church.

Josephine is survived by her children, Rebecca A. Alexander, of Fernandina Beach, FL, Stella Dowling-Camp, (Ron), of Milton, Ga, Harold E. Bagley, Jr. "Skeet", of Roswell, Ga, Margaret T. Payne (Steve) of Toccoa, Ga and Jessica J. Gordon (Fred) of Brookhaven, Ga.

Also, at the time of her passing, Josephine leaves behind and has fourteen grandchildren. Beth Bultman, Jennifer M. Ratliff, Jon-Jacob F. Deal, Joanne McGehee (Drew), Diana M. Dowling, Jessica Nicole "Nikki" Alexander, Elizabeth Bagley (Guido), Danielle Baird (Kyle), Sarah K. Ubertaccio Tony), Morris Bagley, Phillip Bagley, Graham Gordon, Archer Gordon, Savannah Van Buren, twelve great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

She lived a long and rich life.


The family will receive visitors, January 6, 2024, from 5pm-7pm at Northside Chapel, 12050 Crabapple Road, Roswell, Ga 30075

Funeral Services will be held January 7, 2024, 10:30 am at St. Peter Chanel, Catholic Church, 11330 Woodstock Road, Roswell, Ga 30075

Burial Services will be held January 8, 2024, 12:00 pm, Bagley Cemetery in Bickley, Ga