Ima Lee (Clark) Bailey

Ima Lee Clark Bailey was born on March 16, 1925 in Bullard, Cherokee County, Texas to Joe and Julia (Hamlet) Clark.  She was the 10th child born to the union and lived there until she was three, then Lee County until she was in the 5th grade.  The family then moved to Rockdale, Milam County, where she was saved in 1935.  Her father died in 1936 at age 62.  Her mother was the church mother for the Church of God in Christ located in Rockdale.  She started teaching Sunday school or Bible band lessons at age 11 or 12.  Her spiritual gifts allowed her to teach the adult class. She taught herself to play guitar and piano since the church did not have a church musician.   The family moved to Temple, Bell County, Texas in 1941 and she graduated 5th in her class from Dunbar High School in 1942.  She won scholarships to colleges but chose not to go at that time.

She met Alvin Eugene Bailey when she was 22 and they were married on September 25, 1948. To this union was born six children: Sonjanette, Elaine, Joyce, Alvin, James and Denise.  Elder Bailey was the Assistant Pastor of Zion Temple COGIC when they were appointed to the Rockdale, Texas church in 1952 -1953. At Zion Temple she served as church secretary, President of the usher board, and a church trustee board member.  She was the District secretary under the late Supt. N. R. Henderson, Metropolitan District, Bethel COGIC, Waco, Texas. In 1955, they were led to start a new church, subsequently named, First Church of God in Christ, formerly located at 615 E. Ave D., because it was the original site of the first church of God in Christ, which was renamed Zion Temple COGIC when they located on 22nd street. She was appointed as the church mother and remained in that position until her demise.  She and Pastor Bailey served there as leaders until June 24, 1990 when he died.

In the subsequent years she pursued her education once again and received a Bachelor’s of Biblical Studies and a Doctorate of Apostolic Ministry. Down through the years she has helped to change the lives of young and old women through prayers, biblical training and practical living experience.  She also affected generations of children through her tenure teaching at the Temple Reach Center.  She also taught her sons and daughters to sing and play musical instruments to those who would embrace them.  The instruments are- piano, drums, guitar, and tambourine.  Alvin Jr. also learned to play the saxophone and organ, while James learned the trombone and tuba.

Dr. Ima Bailey is preceded in death by her parents, husband, son, Alvin Jr.; her sisters: Elnora Page, Ernestine Mills, Elena Hill, Ruth Scott, Clister Runnels and Berda Britter; her brother – Jewel Clark; Son-in-law – Dr. Lee A. Crossley and grandson – Edward (Teddy) McCoy.  She leaves to mourn her- daughters: Dr. Sonjanette Crossley, Dr. Elaine McCoy, Dr. Joyce Adams, and Dr. Denise Bailey; son – James Bailey (Joyce); daughter-in-law, Anita Bailey; eleven grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren and three great great-grandchildren; five nieces, three nephews and countless great nieces and nephews, as well as a host of cousins, friends and church family members.