“I lost my beloved sister today, Mona Humphries Bailey,
former Miss FAMU and former President, Delta Sigma Theta,” said her brother, former
FAMU President Frederick S. Humphries, in a post on his Facebook page. “I will
miss her with all my heart.”
Beverly E. Smith, national president & CEO of Delta
Sigma Theta, Inc., released a statement that joined Bailey’s family in
mourning.
“Our beloved Past National President transitioned peacefully
early this morning after a long illness,” Smith wrote. “Please keep Soror
Bailey’s family lifted in prayer.”
Bailey served as the first Miss Florida A&M University
in 1953-1954. All the prior campus queens held the title Miss Florida A&M
College. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1954.
After leaving FAMU, she went on to receive a master of science in science education from Oregon State University. Bailey was also a candidate for the doctoral program in Educational Leadership and Administration at the University of Washington.
In her more than 30 year career in public education, Bailey
worked to promote equity and excellence for all students, especially for underachieving
students. She served as a science teacher, counselor, principal, personnel
administrator, assistant and deputy superintendent in Seattle Public Schools,
and Assistant State Superintendent for the Washington state Office of Public
Instruction. She was also an educational consultant, a volunteer with advocacy
groups to reform education for K-12 students, and a member of several nonprofit
boards of directors.
Bailey and her husband, William Peter Bailey, had two sons:
Col. Peter Govan Bailey, United States Air Force and Christopher Evans Bailey, founder and CEO of the Seattle based company, Mindseekers; two grandsons, Tre
and Taylor; and two granddaughters, Grace and Addysen.
Back in 2013, Bailey talked about her great love for FAMU in
an issue of A&M Magazine.
“FAMU is a great institution of higher education. FAMUans
everywhere should never forget that,” she said. “In its 125 years, the institution
has made enormous contributions to the advancement of the United States and
vast contributions to the advancement of black people.”
“I got my wings to fly out in the world from FAMU,” Bailey stated.