Patrick & Nicole Bailey Voted Pooler’s “Best Couple”

By Katrice Williams

“She and I are rock solid. We’re a team. We’re a unit,” Patrick Bailey says. The teammate he is speaking of is none other than his wife Nicole Bailey.

Patrick and Nicole are pleased to call Pooler their home. Patrick is from Pooler, born and bred, while Nicole relocated to the area many years ago. The couple are the proud parents of one daughter,14, and two sons, 12 and 10.

“Pooler has such a special place in my heart. It means so much to me. I love the people. I’ve seen it grow so much,” Nicole says.

Commitment to Service and Community 

Patrick and Nicole pride themselves in maintaining a life of service. They both enjoy being able to serve and give back to their community through their careers. Patrick is a detective while Nicole is currently a registered nurse; she is presently in school to become a nurse practitioner. Patrick stems from a familial line of service people, whether military or law enforcement. In fact, his mom Nancy Bailey, one of his biggest inspirations, was a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The apple certainly did not fall far from the tree.

“I absolutely love it. I’ve always felt called. I come from a long line of people who have served in some capacity,” he says.

Early on, Patrick began a career as a member of Chatham County Emergency Services, eventually becoming a paramedic. He then turned his sights toward law enforcement and served as an officer and a part of the special weapons and tactics unit (SWAT), later becoming a detective.

Patrick enjoys his profession, and he is thankful that it allows him even more time to spend with his family. In addition, he feels that if he can help make his community a better place to live each day, then it is all worth it.

“Service to others is very important,” Patrick says.

Nicole could not agree more. She feels that there is always so much that can be done to help make life better for others.

“We are able to make an impact through our careers; I love that. We care about the community. We care about people. I love being a nurse,” Nicole says.

Nicole has practiced in various nursing arenas, including being an emergency room nurse. Being on the front line of medical care, she knows how much it means to care about another individual’s welfare. Nicole could not imagine serving in any other career. She  knows that her husband maintains a similar heart for service and a desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

“We both have fields where we can give back,” she says.

Time Together

Patrick and Nicole enjoy spending time with family and friends. However, they are intentional about making time for each other. They love to travel together, and they look forward to regular date nights to cozy up at home for a fun movie night or to go out and check out a new restaurant; Patrick admits that they are both big foodies. They also enjoy CrossFit workouts and taking the occasional run at Tom Triplett Community Park (Triplett).

Speaking of Triplett, it will forever hold a special place in both of their hearts. Patrick remembers a particularly meaningful day there: the day he rustled up the nerves to ask Nicole for her hand in marriage. The weather that day was cold, dark and gloomy, and Nicole was hesitant about going anywhere at all, unaware of what was in store. Patrick eventually convinced her to go with him to Triplett. They walked together to the bridge that stretches over the pond in the midst of the park; there, he proposed.

“We finally [came] to that little bridge. I was shaking because of how cold I was and shaking because of how nervous I was. It was fantastic,” he recalls.

Nicole was beyond words; however, she had no doubt that Patrick was the man that she wanted to spend her life with.

“I knew he was my soulmate and was so excited to start the next chapter with him,” she says.

Words from the Heart

Patrick adores his wife. He recalls a heartfelt assertion that he once made to her sometime after his proposal, and it remains true to this day.

“I would not have proposed to you if I knew that you were not the one and if I could not see myself with you for the rest of my life.”

Nicole feels that she can never speak highly enough of her husband. She thinks the world of him.

“In my opinion, Patrick is the definition of what a husband should be. He is strong, caring, responsible and always puts us first. I am so grateful,” she says.

Family

Patrick and Nicole appreciate the time that they spend with their children. All the playground days, ball games and practices over the years have been well worth it.

“I [have] three amazing kids. Right now, we have the time and opportunity and the blessing to be with them every day. Regardless of what else is going on in our lives, we make it a point to be there. I pride myself on that. When they’re older, and I’m gone, they’ll have that. That’s what matters most,” Patrick says.

It is important to the parents to provide the best examples possible for their children.

“They’re getting older; I have such a small window to teach them right from wrong. There will come a time when it’s not fun and cool to hang out with mom and dad. I want my sons to see how I treat their mom to be an example of how they should treat their spouses. Yes, I still open my wife’s car door. I still pull the chair out for her, and I tell her how good she looks. I want my daughter to see how she should be treated,” he says.

Nicole refuses to take any moment for granted. “I want to enjoy as much time as we can with them while also teaching them what a good, healthy relationship looks like so that one day, they can find that same kind of love,” she says.

Gratitude

The couple is grateful to have been voted as Pooler’s “Best Couple.” It is especially meaningful to them that, in some way, they are able to represent the city that they both love and the place that they are both proud to call home.

“To have this together is very special for me and for her. She’s absolutely the greatest woman ever. We are each other’s biggest fans, supporters, cheerleaders. We feel honored,” Patrick says.