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Unity Chappell Bailey

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Unity Chappell Bailey

Date of Service Feb 09, 2012, 03:00 PM
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Unity Chappell Bailey, a devoted wife, mother, sister, friend, educator and Christian, died on February 5, 2012. She was born at Lakeview Hospital in Suffolk on July 26, 1926 to Herbert Hart and Sue Camp Chappell. She was a graduate of Courtland High School, Madison College and earned both a Master’s degree and Certificate of Advanced Studies from Old Dominion University.

Mrs. Bailey taught mathematics to students in South Norfolk and Hampton before leaving education briefly to become a mathematician at National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, Langley, the predecessor of NASA.. She began her 32 year career in Suffolk Pubic Schools in 1954. During her tenure at Suffolk High School, she was a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal for instruction and principal. She also spent three years as principal at Booker T. Washington Middle School prior to her retirement in 1986. In addition, she was a member of the adjunct faculty at Paul D. Camp Community College.

Mrs. Bailey was an active member of Oxford United Methodist Church for almost 60 years, serving in numerous capacities in the church’s ministry. She was a Sunday School teacher, a member of the Council on Ministries and Administrative Board, a Trustee and served two terms as President of the United Methodist Women. She was a woman of strong faith who witnessed to others throughout her life by her selfless giving and caring.

Mrs. Bailey is survived by her husband of 63 years, Charles Lawson Bailey, Sr. She is also survived by a daughter, Nancy Bailey Webb and her husband, Joseph Nimmo Webb, of Suffolk and son, Charles Lawson Bailey, Jr. and his wife Katherine Waterland Bailey of Evans, GA. In addition, she is survived by six grandchildren, Joseph N. Webb, Jr. and wife Mindy Mottley Webb, Jarratt Bailey Webb and wife, Emily Ford Webb  and Jordan Chappell Webb and wife Britney Bishop Webb, all of Suffolk. Grandchildren Ashley Leigh Bailey, Charles Lawson Bailey, III, and Katherine Alyse Bailey all reside in Evans. A great-grandson, Joseph Graham Webb, lives in Suffolk. Mrs. Bailey is survived by a sister, Ida Chappell Beaton, of Richmond, VA and was predeceased by three sisters, Sue Darden Chappell, Rebecca Chappell Gillette and Romine Chappell Turner. She is also survived by many neices, nephews and cousins who were very dear to her. Until the end, she loved to reminisce about time spent with her family, immediate and extended, that meant so much to her.

A celebration of Mrs. Bailey’s life will be held at Oxford United Methodist Church, 601 W. Washington St. Suffolk on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. by the Rev. Ken Hanson and the Rev. E. Clifton Whitlock. The family will receive friends at the home of Joe and Nancy Webb after the service. R.W. Baker & Co Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army Suffolk Corp Physical Health & Education Building, 420 Bank St. Suffolk, VA 23434 or to the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 W. Finney Ave. Suffolk VA 23434. Condolences may be registered at www.rwbakerfh.com

A condolence from Sue Luter Melito :
Feb 07, 2012 07:51 PM

Mrs.Bailey was wonderful! If it's hadn't been for her, I would have NEVER passed geometry! She worked with me so much and knew I needed the credit for graduation and gladly gave of her time. She will be greatly missed!

A condolence from Frank & Bobbie Piland :
Feb 07, 2012 08:01 PM

Our sincere sympathy to you at this time. May the caring of friends bring you comfort and may all of your happy memories sustain you and bring you peace. Mrs. Bailey will be greatly missed.

A condolence from Mary Charlotte (Pearce) Boyette :
Feb 07, 2012 08:17 PM

My Mother, Marie Pearce, was in Assisted Living (Hillcrest) prior to going to Consulate Care in Windsor. I would often see Mr. and Mrs. Bailey when I would visit. Mrs. Bailey was was a lovely lady! Please accept my sincere sympathy.

A condolence from Kay Dunlap :
Feb 07, 2012 10:36 PM

To all the Bailey family: I send my heartfelt sympathy in Unity's passing into her eternal home. I have such wonderful memories of her, though many years have passed since I worked with her. She was a major support and inspiration to me, especially when I went back to teaching in 1980 at Suffolk High School after being out of teaching for twelve years. I'm sure that I would have left teaching as a career had it not been for her help and example. She lived her Christian beliefs every day. Only God knows how many young people she helped. I consider it a great privilege to have known her and worked with her. May God bless all of you as you remember her courageous, loving life.

A condolence from Billy Chorey :
Feb 07, 2012 11:13 PM

Nancy, your Mom was a blessing to me and to so many people over the years. My heartfelt prayers are with all of you and I suspect if there were any math problems in Heaven, they are all solved by now! What a wonderful lady and she will be missed greatly.

A condolence from Ronald H. Williams :
Feb 08, 2012 08:46 AM

Dear Family,
On behalf of the City Treasurer's Office, I want to extend our sympathy to you on the loss of Mrs. Bailey. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Ronald H. Williams, Treasurer and Staff

A condolence from Faye Beale :
Feb 08, 2012 12:22 PM

What a precious lady always offering a sweet smile - even in homeroom and math class! I am reminded of this saying when I think about Mrs. Bailey -- "Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.” Keeping her family in our thoughts and prayers.

A condolence from Linda Bremby Mason :
Feb 08, 2012 02:17 PM

Mr. Bailey, Nancy,Charles and the entire Bailey family: I was very saddened to read of Mrs. Bailey's passing. When I remember my years at Suffolk High School I often think of Mrs. Bailey and her geometry class. I remember her with fondness for she was always genuinely kind and concerned about me. My life-long standing joke is that if it had not been for her "letting" me out of geometry class with a passing grade, I would still be there now trying to pass! When I was elected homecoming queen in 1971-72, she had very encouraging words of wisdom and advice for me, for even though it was a happy time, it was also a scary time for me. The older I get, the more I have come to realize the impact that she had upon my life way back then and I appreciate her even more. I'm sure she's in Heaven solving math problems and interceding for us left behind! May God continue to bless and strengthen each of you during this difficult period of transition. Sincerely, Linda Bremby Mason

A condolence from Clay Wommack :
Feb 08, 2012 02:46 PM

Mr. Bailey, Nancy and and Lawson, we were so sad to here of Mrs. Bailey-my family has very fond memories of her through church and school and wanted you to know we were thinking of you.

A condolence from Deidre Mitchell Harrell :
Feb 08, 2012 09:19 PM

Dear Mr. Bailey: I was saddened to read of Mrs. Bailey's passing and remember both of you with fond memories. I know that you and Mrs. Bailey was very special to our family and especially to Dad. May God bless all of you during this time. I know He will comfort you all as only He can do. Sincerely, Deidre

A condolence from Jinks Lemmon Babey :
Feb 09, 2012 07:45 AM

Dear Nancy, Mr. Bailey, and all the family: I am so sorry to just be hearing about the death of Mrs. Bailey on Sunday. I am sorry to say that I have to be in Richmond today and tomorrow helping my daughter and her family (flu), so I will sadly miss the funeral. The weather is gorgeous today, and I am thrilled that it is pretty for her service. . . very fitting.

I did want to tell you all about my experience in Mrs. Bailey's geometry class in Suffolk High School. I was ALWAYS a talker, and she must have been constantly exasperated by me (no question). But sometimes I would also pass notes. I had a crush on a boy in the class, and one day I passed a note to a girlfriend about him, thinking that Mrs. Bailey didn't know (her back was turned to me). But no, she had eyes in the back of her head. She turned around, walked over the me, took the note, and read it. Then she read it to the class!

You know what? I thank God for Mrs. Bailey! She taught me a very good lesson that day. I never passed another note in class, and I curbed my talking! I was so humiliated, because she was one of the teachers I had the most respect for. She was so knowledgeable, she kept it interesting always, and she was very firm in her expectations—all of which worked together to create a very respectful atmosphere in her classroom. She always had a great smile and a warmth about her, and I believe every single student knew that she cared about them.

Have a wonderful time with the gathering of your family, and I know you will enjoy the many good memories that will be shared at this time. I wish I were going to be there with you!

A condolence from Stephanie Perkins Rayfield :
Feb 09, 2012 12:34 PM

Mrs. Bailey was a treasure for everyone who knew and worked with her. She used her gifts to enrich the lives of others. I interviewed with her in the summer of 1979 when teachers were not in great demand. She chose met to teach at Suffolk High and forever changed my life and the lives of the students I taught over a career of 31 years. Her grace and class was impressive as she was at the helm of Suffolk High School. She had been there for the "glory" years and she was determined to keep the same traditions until the end as long as she was principal. I will always think of with her boots on the football sidelines just like the male principals. She told me she had to do the same job...even walk the sidelines. Heaven is in glory now...Unity is back!

A condolence from Bill Holliday and Judy :
Feb 09, 2012 12:55 PM

Our deepest sympathy and love. We shall all miss this great lady

A condolence from Robert Blair :
Feb 09, 2012 01:14 PM

Mrs. Bailey was an extraordinarily wonderful person and teacher. I fondly remember my class with her. She not only knew her subject, she was gifted in being able to teach what she knew to her students. Mrs. Bailey also had such a good heart. I can feel and visualize the moment when she warmly and tenderly reached out to me when my father was almost killed in an accident in 1961. She didn't give me a pass on any of the classwork, including a test, in those stressful days and weeks, because she had a sense that I needed to stay grounded. She put me at the back of the room to take a test the day after the doctors said that Daddy was dying. She came back on more than one occasion to put her hand on my shoulder to encourage me as I cried softly to myself. I offer my thoughts and prayers to her entire family. Robert, Math Major, William and Mary 1968

A condolence from DIANE GAYLE BOWMAN :
Feb 09, 2012 03:05 PM

OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY. UNITY AND MY MOTHER WERE FRIENDS FROM AN EARLY AGE. MY MOTHER THOUGHT SO MUCH OF HER. MAY GOD GRANT YOU PEACE DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME. FROM THE JAMES AND KENNETH GAYLE FAMILY, REID'S FERRY AREA.

A condolence from Tim Rice :
Feb 09, 2012 03:17 PM

Mrs. Bailey was a wonderful principal at Suffolk High, and a really fun substitute teacher on some days when she filled in for another teacher. She was also a good friend. I treasure my time with her at SHS and at Oxford church.
In Sympathy,
The Rices
Tim, Donna, Betsy, Kellie and D.T.

A condolence from Patricia "VanHorn" Caughran :
Feb 09, 2012 04:51 PM

Mrs. Bailey was such a kind person. My thoughts and prayers to the family. God Bless you.

A condolence from Heather Bunn Brinkley :
Feb 09, 2012 11:14 PM

My deepest sympathy to you all on the passing of Mrs. Bailey. I have so many fond memories from when she was my principal at Booker T. Washington Intermediate School to Sundays in the choir and bible study. She was a kind and giving. May God be with you in this time of loss and may your memories of her allow you to feel her warmth.

With Sympathy,
Heather & David Brinkley & Gus Powers

A condolence from Alison Pugh :
Feb 13, 2012 10:08 AM

My sincere sympathy to Mrs. Bailey's family. I remember her from Booker T. Washington Intermediate School. She was a wonderful lady. May God Bless you all.

A condolence from Terri Baines :
Mar 15, 2012 08:35 PM

Dear Lawson and family, I simply want to add my condolences to those of the others who loved Mrs. Bailey and who have such fond memories of her as a teacher. I doubt that there are many people in this world who had such a positive impact on the lives of so many people. Take care of yourselves and know that she lives on in your hearts.

A condolence from Tracy Rice Weber :
Mar 19, 2012 10:58 AM

Mrs. Bailey was an attentive and nurturing principal, a dear friend to our family, and my very first official boss after I graduated from college. In all three roles, she made us feel safe and cared about.
She was also a pretty good saleswoman! I did more than a couple projects I would have otherwise run from after Mrs. Bailey held my arm, looked at me with those blue eyes and told me I really would do a wonderful job at...
I will always remember Unity Bailey--her strength and her love.
With deep sympathy,
Tracy

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