Pearl Mae Bailey (1918 - 1990)

Born 29 Mar 1918 in Newport News, Warwick, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Melvin Edward White — married 1944 (to before 1948) in New York, United States

Died 17 Aug 1990 at age 72 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Pearl Bailey is Notable.

Pearl Bailey was an African-American actor and singer. After appearing in vaudeville, she made her Broadway debut in St. Louis Woman in 1946. In 1968, she won a Tony Award for the title role in the all-Black production of Hello, Dolly! In 1986, she won a Daytime Emmy award for her performance as a fairy godmother in the ABC Afterschool Special, Cindy Eller: A Modern Fairy Tale.^[1]

Pearl Mae Bailey was born in 1918 in Newport News, Warwick County, Virginia, to Rev. Joseph James Bailey and Ella Mae Ricks Tate, ^[2][3] both of whom were born in Southampton County, Virginia. It is believed she was of Black and Cree Indian ancestry.^[4] She was raised in the Bloodfields neighborhood of Newport News, Virginia;^[5][6] She started high school in Norfolk, Viginia.^[1] Her parents divorced and her mother remarried; she and took Pearl and her two older sisters, Virgie and Eura, and her older brother Bill with her to Washington D.C., and then on to Philadelphia.

Around 1937, at the age of 15, she performed in a talent show contest in a Philadelphia nightclub, and won a 2-week paid engagement there. Although the club closed down and was unable to pay her for her work,^[1] she decided to abandon her former goal of becoming a schoolteacher, and embarked on a career in show business.

She went to New York and won a similar contest at Harlem's Apollo Theater.^[1] She worked steadily in Black clubs on the East Coast from the late 1930s through the 1940s. While working in New York in 1944, she married Melvin White.^[7] In 1948, she married John Pinkett.^[8] They divorced in 1952.^[1]

On November 19, 1952, Bailey married jazz drummer Louie Bellson in London.^[9] The marriage lasted the rest of her life.

They adopted two children:^[1]

1. Anthony Paul Bellson, (1954-2004)
2. Dee Dee Jean Bellson (1960-2009)

In 1975, Pearl Bailey was appointed to the personal military staff of Gov. George C. Wallace as Aide-de-Camp with the rank of Hon. Lieutenant Colonel in the Alabama State Militia.^[10][11]

She died at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia on August 17, 1990. She is buried at Rolling Green Memorial Park in West Chester, Pennsylvania.^[12]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Wikipedia:Pearl_Bailey
2. ↑ Birth: "Virginia, U.S., Birth Records, 1912-2015, Delayed Birth Records, 1721-1920"
   Virginia Department of Health; Richmond, Virginia; Virginia, Births, 1864-2015
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9277 #223525 (accessed 26 October 2022)
   Pearl Bailey born on 29 Mar 1918, child of Joseph James Bailey & Ella May Ricks, in Warwick, Virginia, USA.
3. ↑ Social Security: "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007"
   Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007
   Ancestry Record 60901 #39171303 (accessed 26 October 2022)
   Name: Pearlie Mae Bailey [Pearlie Bailey Bellson] [Pearlie Pinkett] [Pearlie White] [Pearl Bellson]; Gender: Female; Race: Black; Birth Date: 29 Mar 1918; Birth Place: Newport News, Virginia; Death Date: 17 Aug 1990; Father: Joseph J Bailey; Mother: Ella M Tate; Notes: Aug 1939: Name listed as PEARLIE MAE BAILEY; : Name listed as PEARLIE BAILEY BELLSON; : Name listed as PEARLIE BAILEY PINKETT; : Name listed as PEARLIE BAILEY WHITE; 03 Jun 1993: Name listed as PEARL B BELLSON.
4. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/19/obituaries/pearl-bailey-musical-star-and-humorist-is-dead-at-72.html?pagewanted=2
5. ↑ 1920 Census: "1920 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1920; Census Place: Newport News Ward 3, Newport News (Independent City), Virginia; Roll: T625_1899; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 105
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6061 #105786516 (accessed 26 October 2022)
   Pearly Bailey (1), single daughter, in household of Joe Bailey (36) in Newport News Ward 3, Newport News (Independent City), Virginia. Born in Virginia.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJNG-8NF : 4 January 2021), Pearly Bailey in entry for Joe Bailey, 1920.
7. ↑ Marriage: "New York, New York, U.S., Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018"
   New York City Municipal Archives; New York, New York; Borough: Manhattan; Volume Number: 36
   Ancestry Record 61406 #120924 (accessed 18 March 2023)
   Melvin E White marriage to Pearl M Bailey on 22 Sep 1944 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
8. ↑ Marriage: "Nevada County Marriages, 1862-1993"
   citing Marriage, Clark, Nevada, United States, Nevada State Museum and Historical Society, Las Vegas; FHL microfilm 005247197.
   FamilySearch Record: QL4G-RPF7 (accessed 12 October 2022)
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-81WP-D6M Image number 00746
   Pearl Bailey marriage to John R Pinkett on 31 Aug 1948 in Clark, Nevada, United States.
9. ↑ Marriage: "U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-current"
   Spokane Chronicle; Publication Date: 29/ Nov/ 1952; Publication Place: Spokane, Washington, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/565630245/?article=3b7bb1cd-ceeb-47e1-9d15-f5a2dd678fbf&focus=0.28330097,0.5402441,0.3995198,0.59673387&xid=3398
   Ancestry Record 62116 #22287664 (accessed 26 October 2022)
   Pearl Bailey (34) marriage to Louis Bellson in Abt 1952 in London.
10. ↑ Hy Gardner, "By George! Pearl Bailey joins Alabama State Militia!" Idaho State Journal, (Pocatello, Idaho), 01 Aug 1975.
11. ↑ Newsday, "Pearl Bailey: The entertainer who became an institution," La Crosse Tribune, (La Crosse, Wisconsin), 12 Dec 1975: 4.
12. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1663/pearl-mae-bailey: accessed 9 January 2023), memorial page for Pearl Mae Bailey (29 Mar 1918–17 Aug 1990), Find A Grave: Memorial #1663, citing Rolling Green Memorial Park, West Goshen Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.

See also:

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVSB-3D4S : 4 September 2015), Miss Pearl Bailey, Great Lakes, Ohio, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Cincinnati Post, The, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVS1-W6XP : 4 September 2015), Pearl Bailey, SouthEast, Florida, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing St. Petersburg Times, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVS1-D25W : 4 September 2015), Pearl Bailey, SouthWest Central, Oklahoma, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Tulsa World, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVS1-D258 : 4 September 2015), Pearl Bailey, SouthWest Central, Oklahoma, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Tulsa World, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVSB-818L : 4 September 2015), Pearl Bailey, Middle Atlantic, Virginia, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Roanoke Times, The, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVSB-818T : 4 September 2015), Pearl Bailey, Middle Atlantic, Virginia, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Roanoke Times, The, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVSB-8M9C : 4 September 2015), Miss Pearl Or Ambassador Of Love Or Pearlie Mae Or Dick Bailey, Middle Atlantic, Virginia, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Richmond Times-Dispatch, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVSB-8M9G : 4 September 2015), Miss Pearl Or Pearlie Mae Bailey, Middle Atlantic, Virginia, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Richmond Times-Dispatch, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVSB-98F8 : 4 September 2015), Miss Pearl Or Pearlie Mae Bailey, Great Lakes, Ohio, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Akron Beacon Journal, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVS1-D2RK : 4 September 2015), Pearl Mae Bailey, SouthWest Central, Oklahoma, United States, 19 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Tulsa World, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVPG-3YJY : 4 September 2015), Pearl Or Pearlie Mae Or Dick Bailey, Madison, Wisconsin, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Wisconsin State Journal, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVPG-N11J : 4 September 2015), Miss Pearl Mae Bailey, Pennsylvania, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Philadelphia Inquirer, The, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5Q-SHFH : 4 September 2015), Pearl Or Pearlie Mae Bailey, Florida, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing , born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5Q-HLY7 : 4 September 2015), Pearl Or Pearlie Mae Or Dick Bailey, Florida, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing , born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5Q-LJ36 : 4 September 2015), Pearl Or Pearlie Mae Bailey, New Jersey, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing , born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV57-4WG5 : 4 September 2015), Pearl Mae Bailey, Illinois, United States, 19 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing , born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5W-L3W9 : 4 September 2015), Miss Pearl Or Pearly Mae Or Dick Bailey, Missouri, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing , born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV5W-1CDS : 4 September 2015), Pearl Or Pearlie Mae Bailey, Texas, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing , born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRP-DSY5 : 5 September 2015), Pearl Or Pearlie Mae Or Dick Bailey, Illinois, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Chicago Sun-Times, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRP-DSBC : 5 September 2015), Miss Pearl Or Pearlie Mae Bailey, Illinois, United States, 19 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Chicago Sun-Times, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK7L-XDJX : 16 September 2015), Pearl Mae Bailey, California, United States, 18 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing San Francisco Chronicle, born-digital text.

• "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVSB-NZ5Y : 4 September 2015), Pearl Or Pearlie Mae Bailey, Virginia, United States, 20 Aug 1990; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing USA TODAY, born-digital text.

• Bailey-1640 created through the import of PINKETTFAMILYTREE.ged on Aug 16, 2011 by Pinkett Family Tree-1.

• Wikidata: Item Q462118, en:Wikipedia
• FamilySearch Record: GQZ3-Q7M profile of Pearl Mae Bailey