Patricia Bailey

Patricia Antoinette Bailey, 76, died on Friday, March 12, following a lengthy illness. There will be grave-side service at Forest Crest Cemetery in Irondale on Monday, March 15, 2:00 pm after a celebration of Patricia's life at 11:00 at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Vestavia Hills. The Reverend Doctor Thomas M. Bryson, officiating. Pallbearers are James P. Bailey, brother of Patricia, Martin Fournier, Evan Cox, Jerry Currin, Charles Edwards, and Dereck Stewart. All Covid protocols will be observed and the service will be live-streamed. Patricia, or Pat as she was called by her friends, was born in Birmingham, the daughter of James H. and Chrystine P. Bailey. She graduated from Shades Valley High School and received her B.A. from Huntingdon College and an M.A. from Montevallo University in Speech and Theatre. She began her teaching career at Warrior High School and went from there to Dothan High School. She soon ended up at Homewood High School, where she spent most of her career teaching speech, drama, and debate. Pat was an exceptional educator and a force to be reckoned with as a debate coach. Quite simply, she was one of America's best. She was the founder and co-director of one of America's largest Lincoln Douglas Debate summer workshops held at the University of Iowa. She was named Outstanding Speech/Drama/Debate Educator of 1995 by the National Federation of the Interscholastic Speech and Debate Association. She was chosen to be a Key Coach of the Barkley Forum for High Schools at Emory University. In addition to literally hundreds of wins in local and regional competitions, she coached national champions in Lincoln Douglas Debate and in interpretive reading, and her career was honored with selection to the National Speech and Debate Association Hall of Fame, Alabama's first. She was also one of the Charter honorees of the Alabama Speech and Debate Association Hall of Fame. Pat served her profession as District Chairperson of the Deep South District for over 10 years. She was well-loved as the director of the Homewood High School Theatre Program, culminating in their little theatre being named the Bailey Theatre. Hers was a career filled with both accomplishment and lives touched by her example. Patricia was an active member of Southminster Presbyterian Church in Vestavia Hills. She absolutely loved and served her church. She was an Elder, serving on the Church's Session and directing many mission outreach programs of Southminster. She also taught her Presbyterian Women's Circle and Sunday School class. She was a founding member of the Joyous Soulos Sunday School Class. She was preceded in death by her parents James H. and Chrystine P. Bailey and niece Melissa Ann Bailey. Survivors include brother James P. Bailey (Jane) of Sylacauga, niece Deborah Fournier (Martin) of Hoover, and a number of great-nieces and nephews, and dear friend Marilee Dukes of Hoover. The family requests that in lieu of flowers you donate to Southminster Presbyterian Church, 1124 Montgomery Highway S, Vestavia Hills.