Cecelia Mae Bailey

We are comforted as we remember the years God has blessed us with our beloved CECELIA MAE BAILEY. In our hearts and through faith in God, we know that she is in God’s hands. Cecelia Mae Bailey was born on February 11, 1932 to Booker T. and Selma Moore in Richmond, Virginia. She transferred to her new life on January 24, 2023. Cecelia received her formal education in the Richmond Public School System. She attended Zion Baptist Church and at an early age and received the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. She was baptized when she was 12 years old. Cecelia moved to Baltimore, Maryland as a young woman and united with New Metropolitan Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Dr. Lawyer L. Swinson. She was an active member and loved being a member of the Swinson Jubilee Singers. She later joined Friendship Baptist Church and she decided at that time that she would get baptized again as she said, “I didn’t know what I was doing the first time and I didn’t understand the importance of it but now I know.” She was given a flyer about a “New Doctor” in town and she made the decision to unite with Village Baptist Church under the founder and pastor Dr. Zollie D. Bagby. She was a member of the gospel chorus, pastor’s aid, senior usher board, faithful seniors, and hospitality committee until her health no longer allowed her to participate. Cecelia enjoyed good music especially gospel music, she was a member of the Heavenly Lights gospel singers along with her friends Rev. Dr. Dorothy Finch, Magnolia Peters, cousin Catherine Miller, and daughter Minister Yvonne Lawson. Cecelia was affectionately called “Mother” by her children’s friends, and “Granny” by her grandchildren’s friends. She was very compassionate and a mother, sister, aunt, and grandmother to all who knew her. Cecelia loved to cook and most of the neighborhood kids knew it. She always said, “I don’t want to see a child hungry,” and for that reason she would always cook large amounts of food just in case any of the children in the neighborhood needed a meal. She offered her home to many of her adopted children and grandchildren who needed a place to stay. She treated them like her own children, she let them know that while they were under her roof they had to go to church and attend school. Her most memorable places of employment were A. Hoen, Company Bindery, and Gwynn Falls Park Junior High School. She had no problem asking her employers if her children could come to her job because she wanted them to know the importance of hard work and what was necessary for making provisions to support the family. In 1978 she united in holy matrimony with Herbert Lee Bailey, together they have shown their family the meaning of true love and commitment to God, family, and friends. Cecelia was preceded in death by her late husband Herbert L. Bailey; grandsons Derrick Tabb, La’Jwan Bonner; and great grandson Tavaris Bonner. She leaves to cherish her memory: children, Zelma Shaw of Richmond, Va., Everett Shaw (Rose) of Richmond, Va., Minister Yvonne Lawson of Aberdeen, Md., Patrice Johnson (Luster) of Randallstown, Md., Darryl Lawson Sr. of Richmond, Va.; 17 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, great-great-grandson; two sisters, Dorothy Watson of Westchester, Ca., Yvonne Owens of Forestville, Md.; sister-in-law, Shirley Ransom of Jackson, Fl.; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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Cecelia Mae Bailey

February 11, 1932 - January 25, 2023