Dorothy F. Bailey

 
The Honorable Dorothy F. Bailey, a resident of Temple Hills, Maryland, for over 35 years, is a leader with extraordinary vision, dedication, compassion and faith. Dorothy Bailey has an esteemed reputation, a host of accomplishments and an extraordinary record of service to the residents of Prince George�s County, the State of Maryland, the Washington Metropolitan area, and our Nation.

Bailey�s career has taken her from the public school classroom to the University of Maryland�s Upward Bound Program. Then from 1983-1994, she served as a senior-level official at various Prince George�s County government agencies, including the Consumer Protection Commission, the Department of Family Services and the Office of the County Executive. In 1994 Bailey was elected to the Prince George�s County Council and during the her eight years as a Member, she led the Council for five years, serving as Vice Chair for three terms and Chair for two terms.

Recognized by Washingtonian Magazine as one of the area�s most powerful women, Bailey is a passionate visionary and woman of service. Her civic involvement on local, state, national and international levels has benefitted communities, institutions and an infinite number of individuals. Instrumental in founding many noteworthy organizations and initiatives, she remains intimately involved with The Harlem Remembrance Foundation of Prince George�s County, The LEARN Foundation, Kiamsha Youth Empowerment Organization, and the Royal Bafokeng (South Africa) Sister City Friendship Committee. Bailey, an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Hunter Memorial AME Church, has served on the national and local Boards of the National Council of Negro Women. In 2011, she was elected to the National Executive Council of the Association for the Study of African Life and History (ASALH) and is also President of a local chapter.

Dorothy Bailey�s invaluable contributions have been acknowledged with hundreds of certificates of appreciation and awards for outstanding service. A few include: the Gladys Noon Spellman Award for Public Service, NAACP Image Award for Political Activism, National Council of Negro Women�s Bethune Recognition Award, North Carolina Central University�s 2013 Alumnus of the Year, National Women�s Hall of Fame 1996 Book of Lives & Legacies!, and induction into the Prince George�s County Women�s Hall of Fame.

In 2011, Bailey�s award-winning book, In a Different Light: Reflections and Beauty of Wise Women of Color, was published. This exquisite photo essay celebrates and illuminates the beauty, strength and wisdom of 90 well-lived women�all from the state of Maryland or with strong ties to the region. A native of Dunn, North Carolina, Ms. Bailey earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from North Carolina Central University, where she first became involved in civil rights advocacy. As a postgraduate student, she studied education and gerontology at Pennsylvania State University and the University of Maryland. In 1991, Bailey received an honorary doctorate from Riverside Baptist College and Seminary and is a 1998 graduate of the Leadership Greater Washington.

Dorothy Bailey and her husband, Lionel, have two treasured children, three extraordinary grandchildren and a terrific grandniece.

Biography courtesy of the Maryland Commission for Women, 2014.

© Copyright Maryland State Archives, 2014