Description
Mrs. Lucy Bailey Dies At 106 - Rites Sunday in Parkville - - Mrs. Lucy Bailey, 2905 Forest formerly of Parkville, Missouri, died Wednesday, February 25, at General Hospital. She was 106 years old.
Funeral services were held Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at Washington CME church in Parkville. The Rev. A. W. Kelly will officiate. Burial will be in the Parkville cemetery.
Mrs. Bailey was born September 27, 1852, in Platte County, Missouri, of slave parentage and was the last of the seven children born to Jerry and Eliza Myers.
Concerning the authenticity of her age she had told interviewers that her slave owners were compelled to keep the ages of their slaves to give prospective slave purchasers.
There was little chance for school attendance for Mrs. Bailey until she was grown and freed and then, she said, the other children were usually so much younger that there was not much encouragement to seek an education
After the death of a sister, Mrs. Margaret Hanson, she took her sister‘s two grandchildren to rear. For a while she lived in Oklahoma and later in Old Mexico where she gained the name of “Chief Cook’’ because of her skill in making tamales.
One of the vivid incidents in the mind of Mrs. Bailey was when the first train was scheduled to run through Kansas City. Those who could, packed picnic baskets and went to the railroad tracks to watch for the train. Finally, she said, someone yelled, “Here She Comes" and almost before the last word was out, “And There She Goes.”
Mrs. Bailey was known for her funny disposition and at the Nursing home at 2905 Forest the attendants often spoke of her as a wonderful woman and with a pleasant disposition. She always thanked anyone when the occasion arose for them to do anything for her.
She attributed her longevity to her ability to be obedient to her Master and to thank Him for each blessing, especially for having spared her to reach her present age.
She entered the Wynn's Nursing home May 4, 1957, and celebrated her 105th birthday with ice cream and cake. However, she became ill following her birthday and last year no celebration was held. Her husband died several years ago.
She is survived by a nephew, Harold Myers of Topeka, a niece Mrs. Gertrude Myers Bigbee of Los Angeles: two great-nephews, Thomas Earl Blakeman, whom she reared and Richard Brewer of Kansas City, Kansas; three great- nieces, Mrs. Susie Berry, Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, and Mrs. Ethel Mae Howard of Los Angeles also nine great-great nephews and six great-great-great-nephews and nieces.Date(s) of Creation
3/6/1959
