Born and raised in Charleston, Gail Bailey was a four-year letterwinner on the CofC women's basketball team and two-year letterwinner on the varsity tennis team. She entered the College of Charleston in 1963 and was the first female member of the men's intercollegiate track team (there was no team for women at the time). In addition, Bailey received numerous intramural awards participating in every sport offered. She was extremely active in campus life as a member of the Athletic Association, Student Government, the College Singers and president of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. Her daughter, Elizabeth, played volleyball for CofC from 1996-2000.