Mona Lavina Bailey

Mona Humphries Bailey of Seattle, Washington was born December 14, 1932 in Apalachicola, Florida. On January 12, 2018 Mona went to be with the Lord after her courageous example of living with cancer.   She was surrounded by her loving family.  Mona Humphries Bailey was a loving devoted Wife to her beloved Husband William P. (Pete) Bailey and Mother of her two beloved sons: Colonel Peter Govan Bailey, United States Air Force of Montgomery, Alabama and Christopher Evans Bailey (Chelsea) of Seattle Washington, Founder and CEO of the Seattle based company, MindSeekers.

Mona Humphries Bailey has been defined by her three passions; Family, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and K-12 Education.

In her 32-year career in public education, Mona Bailey has worked to promote equity and excellence for all students, especially for underachieving students. She has served as a junior and high school science teacher, high school counselor, Middle School Principal, Personnel Administrator and Assistant and Deputy Superintendent in Seattle Public Schools, and as Assistant State Superintendent in the Washington State Office of Public Instruction. Immediately after retiring, she served as a Senior Associate with the Institute of Educational Inquiry, a nonprofit Seattle-based organization focusing on educational renewal in partnership with the National Network for Educational Renewal. She continues to play a role in education as an educational consultant and as a volunteer with advocacy groups to reform education for K-12 students.  She served as the Head of School and the Mistress of Generals for The Forest Ridge Sacred Heart School in Bellevue.

Mona co-chaired the HB2722 State Advisory Committee to Close the Achievement Gap of African American Students in the State of Washington. She also served on the Pacific Science Center Board of Directors and chaired its Science Education Advisory Committee; the Seattle Art Museum's Education and Community Advisory Committee; United Way of King County’s Community Building Committee; the Seattle YWCA's Communities of Color Advisory Committee; and the Black Education Strategy Roundtable Board of Directors. She was a founding member of School Board Leaders for the Future. She was also a longtime member of the Seattle Rotary Club.

Mona received many awards throughout her lifetime. The MESA (Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement) State Board established the annual Mona Bailey MESA Teacher Award in 2003 in honor of her services to the State MESA Program from its beginning in the 1980s. She has been recognized by the Johnson Publishing Company as one of the 100 influential Black Americans and is listed in Who's Who among Women and Who's Who among Black Americans. Florida A&M University awarded her the Meritorious Achievement Award and Distinguished Alumnus Award; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., honored her with the highest award bestowed upon its members, the Mary Church Terrell Award. In 2014, Therapeutic Health Services of Washington awarded her its annual Alvirita Little Award.

Mona had a BS Degree in Chemistry from Florida A&M University and a MS in Science Education from Oregon State University. She was a candidate for the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership and Administration at the University of Washington.

Mona is proceeded by her parents Minnie Henry & Thornton Govan Humphries of Apalachicola, Florida and brother Thornton Govan Humphries Jr. of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

She is survived by her Beloved Husband Pete Bailey, and her two beloved sons: Colonel Peter Govan Bailey, Montgomery, Alabama and Christopher Evans Bailey (Chelsea) of Seattle Washington.  Grand Children: Peter Tre Bailey (Tre) of Washington D.C, Taylor Govan Bailey of Seattle, Washington, Addysen  Marie Bailey of Wichita, Kansas, Grace Catharine Bailey of Seattle, Washington.

Her beloved siblings: Late Thornton Govan Humphries (Maude), Maime Stevens (Robert), Frederick Stephen Humphries, Barbara Jones (Milton), her beloved younger sister and best friend, her Beloved Sister-in-Laws Julia Green and Martha Brown.  

She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends and her Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., sisters throughout the global community.

The following services will be held:

Thursday, January 18, 2018   4 p.m. -7 p.m.

St. Monica Catholic Church, A Parish of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle
4301 88th Ave SE, Mercer Island, Washington 98040

The Viewing and Visitations will be followed by the Holy Rosary and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Service, open to the public.

Friday, January 19, 2018 The Funeral Mass will be held at 11:30 AM at St. Monica Cathedral Catholic Church, A Parish of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle, 4301 88th Ave SE, Mercer Island, Washington 98040.

Repass immediately following

Saturday, January 27, 2018 Interment in Apalachicola, Florida- Immediate Family Only

Sunday, January 28, 2018 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Memorial Service in Tallahassee, Florida Location TBD.

Acknowledgements:

The family wishes to express our deep appreciation and sincerely thank you for your kind expression sympathy and Prayers.  A special thank you to Dr. Saul E. Rivkin and Dr. Vincent J. Picozzi at Rivkin Cancer Center.

Mona had a love for crimson and white flowers; and a passion for the following charities that we would encourage you to support:

Pacific Science Center, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Research Foundation and Florida A&M University Minnie Henry Humphries Scholarship Fund in memory of her Mother.

The Bailey Family is asking everyone to embrace the past with remembrance and the future with longing.

Funeral Home Services will be provided by Bonnie- Watson. Online condolences can be left at http://bonneywatson.com.