Jesse Earle Bailey was born August 1, 1876, son of Baylis Earle Bailey and Melissa Isabelle (Trammel) Bailey, in Greenville County. He was the first honor student of the first graduating class of North Greenville Academy. He attended Furman University from 1894 to 1899. Bailey was licensed to preach on February 4, 1894 and ordained on April 16, 1897. He attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1902 and graduated in 1905. From 1909 to 1913 he was pastor of Red Bank Baptist Church, Saluda. On July 1, 1913, be became pastor of Cannon Street Baptist Church, Charleston. In 1918 the church moved to a new location and changed its name to the Rutledge Avenue Baptist Church. He remained at this church until March 1945.

Bailey was a Board of Trustees Member at Furman University from 1936-1946, and Honorary Member 1947-1958. In 1937 the degree of doctor of divinity was conferred upon Bailey by Furman University.

Bailey was married to Annie Scott and they had five children. Jesse Earle Bailey passed away on August 31, 1957.