Dorothy Sanders Bailey

Dorothy Sanders Bailey, 100 years of age, of New Orleans, died peacefully July 15, 2020, in Minneapolis. During her final days, she was surrounded by all her children and lifted up in pray-ers by the countless people whose lives she touched. Dorothy (Mama Dot) was born November 1, 1919, in New Orleans, to Hippolite and Lucy Sand-ers. She attended Holy Redeemer, St. Raymond Catholic, Valena C. Jones, and Albert Wicker Schools. In 1942, Dorothy married Norman Bailey, Sr. and moved uptown to Jackson Ave., where they raised a family of five. In 1986, she married her second husband, Rainer Porter. In 1957, Dorothy worked as an insurance agent for Victory and then for Rhodes Life Ins. Com-panies. From 1978–1982 she volunteered with the New Orleans Council on Aging, which grew to a full-time position as an outreach worker from 1982–1988. Her illustrious career garnered numerous awards and recognition for her outstanding work. Dorothy enjoyed helping others, traveling, sewing, reading, and word puzzles. She was an active member of Holy Ghost, St. Francis de Sales, and St. Katherine Drexel Parish Catholic Churches. Dorothy is survived by her five children: Norman Bailey, Jr. (Louise), New Orleans; Gwendolyn Evans (James), Danville, CA; Hazel Tanner and Cheryl Awobamise (Bola), Minneapolis; Gilbert Bailey, Jacksonville, FL; and an adopted son, Michael Hayes (Judy), De Soto, TX; grandchil-dren: Bola, Jr. and Claire Awobamise; Chad (Natalie), Jamar (Natasha), Tyrone (Kim), and Rasaan (Arlette) Bailey; Bukola (Dan) Breczinski; Melissa (Sylvester) Crawford; Victoria (Philippe) Erville; Carla and Jimmy, Jr. Evans; Chiquita (Jasper) Zachery; Tanya Tanner; and Malissa Walton; 23 great grandchildren; 5 great great grandchildren; cousin Carmen Wallace; niece Irma Flemings; cherished relatives of the Sanders, Paulin, and Black families; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Dorothy Bailey was passionate about education. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to St. Katharine Drexel’s Scholarship Fund. For decades, annually, at St. Francis de Sales and St. Katharine, Dorothy gave each graduate, from elementary school up through college, a monetary gift. Make checks payable to St. Katharine Church; Memo: Scholarship Fund, In Honor of Doro-thy Bailey. Mail to St. Katharine Drexel, 2015 Louisiana Ave., New Orleans, LA 70115. (Phone: 504.891.3172) She was preceded in death by both husbands: Norman Bailey, Sr. and Rainer PORTER; her sib-lings: Gilbert Sanders, Goble Sanders, Sr., Hazel Vincent, Irma Black, and Junius (Hippolite) Sanders; stillborn daughter, Madeline Bailey; and by her granddaughter, Denise Mikelle Tanner. Dorothy was cremated in Minneapolis and will be memorialized in New Orleans after COVID-19 subsides. Her legacy as a Christian and advocate for the rights of women and the elderly is a model for all who follow in her footsteps. Condolences: The Bailey Family, c/o Gwen Evans, 35 Meese Circle, Danville, CA 94526. Arrangements by DW Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave., New Orleans, LA; Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the guest book.