Lura Lee Bailey

A Time To Be Born:

Lura was born on Wednesday, August 19, 1931 to the late Jim Washington & Ella Bell Leg-Washington in Elkmont, AL, the tenth of eleven children.

A Time To Live:

Lura, at a young age, took the Mourner's Bench at St. Mark Primitive Baptist Church and confessed hope in Christ, under the Leadership of the late Elder Joe L. Baker. Lura was also instrumental in helping St. Mark move from Elkmont, AL (Vaughn Hollow) to Athens, AL. Lura served on the Missionary Board at Macedonia MBC, under the leadership of the late Rev. Marcus Clark.  She was a member of Freedom Missionary Baptist Church where she was part of the Mission Ministry and participated in Senior Ministry activities and was working with Sister Parkey to purchase choir robes until her health started to decline.

In April of 1955, Lura married the late Willie Bruce Bailey, Sr.  To this union four children were born, William (Peanut) Earl Bailey, Sr. (deceased), Margaret Dianne Bailey and James Louis Bailey (Foots) all were born in Athens Al.  Lura gave birth to a fourth child Ronnie Lee Bailey in Dayton, OH.  She was a loving mother to two additional sons Willie Bruce Bailey, Jr. (Tap Pole) and Jonathan Howard-Bailey whom Lura welcomed into her family and home.

In October of 1960 Lura moved with her family from the south with big hopes and dreams for a better life in Dayton, Ohio. Lura was a “work from home” mom while her children were in school.  In 1969 a house fire forced the Bailey family to move to emergency housing, Arlington Courts known to most as the projects, what was only to be temporary housing, turned into a twenty-year stay.

No child went hungry in the Arlington Courts Family.  Lura would often go door to door raising funds for families in need whether it was for food, rent, school clothes or helping with funeral cost.  Lura took the skills learned from watching her mother cook and worked in various restaurants. Lura was an anointed cook, blessed by GOD with the ability to make food melt in your mouth.  A fond memory/story was when Lura and her best-friend, the late Helen Owensby, would work at the family carwash long enough to earn enough money for a meal and shopping at Shop-Rite their favorite neighborhood market.

Lura also worked a full-time job while maintaining her home and making sure her children kept busy doing after school programs; UD Summer Camp, 4H, drill team, girl scouts and school sports.

At the age of 70, Lura retired from Madden Hill Golf Course, where she worked under the management of Professional Golfer, the late great Pete Brown.  Lura spent her time quilting, working in her yard, feeding the homeless, traveling with her baby brother (the late John Washington, Sr.), raising money for the Alzheimer Association, Relay for Life (Cancer), and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

Lura L. Bailey, God’s greatest definition of Strength and Love, also known as Mrs. Bailey, Mama Bailey, the Candy Lady, Icee Lady, Sister Lou, Granny, Grandmother, Mama, and childhood nickname, “Head Player.”

Preceded in death by her husband, Willie Bruce Bailey, Sr., sons, Willie Bruce Bailey, Jr. and William Earl Bailey, Sr.; grandsons, Christopher Tyrone Adams, Willie Bruce Bailey, III; ten siblings, a nephew raised like a brother, Willie Horton and a niece raised like a sister, Eloise Townsend.

A Time To Mourn

Lura L. Bailey leaves to cherish her life memories sons; James Louis and Ronnie Lee Bailey, grandson (raised like a son) William Earl Bailey, Jr. (Tiffany) and Jonathan Howard-Bailey: daughter; Margaret Dianne Bailey, loving and devoted granddaughters; Lura, Laura, Nellie, Ronnetta, Ronniqua, Ronnisha Bailey and Shona Bryant; twenty-one grandchildren, sixty-two great grandchildren, ten great-great grandchildren; daughter-in-law; Barbara Bryant-Bailey; special daughter Chyanne Woods; two sister-in-laws; Linda Jackson, Doris (Willie) Coldwell, Cleveland, OH;  special nephew and nieces Earl & Stella Green and Martha McWilliams, Athens, AL,  four very special “sons”, Darnell (Noze) Turner, Maurice (Suede) Wade, Louis Bonner and Cordellous Keith; the Owensby and the Arlington Courts Family (AC 4Life), and the Freedom Faith MBC Family, numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, neighbors and friends.

Proverbs 31:10-31 ~ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.  She girdeth her loins with strength and strengthened her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

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