GEORGENA JOY PARKS BAILEY

11/01/1931 - 08/22/2022

Georgena Joy Parks Bailey passed away at home Monday, August 22, 2022, at age 90 following a brief illness.

She was born to George Milton and Caledonia Elizabeth Burton Parks on November 1, 1931, in San Antonio, and her family moved to Houston when she was very young. She was a devout Christian and longtime member of South Main Baptist Church.

Following graduation from San Jacinto High School she attended Baylor University and graduated from the University of Houston with a Master’s Degree in Education and Journalism. Georgena and Theodore E. “Ted” Bailey Jr married June 1, 1957, and were very happy to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary just prior to her illness. Immediately following their wedding in 1957 they left for Virginia for Ted to attend Army Basic Officer Training as a Second Lieutenant. They went to many historical places while there and always called this a wonderful three-month honeymoon before Georgena had to return to Houston to teach that fall. She retired from HISD after 41 years teaching at Johnston Junior High, Pershing Middle School, and Bellaire High School. She was a strict teacher, always fair, and always encouraging her students to be their best. She also assisted her husband in his law practice throughout his entire career. She was his personal secretary.

Georgena grew up taking many trips with her family including attending the 1939 World’s Fair in New York and spending a summer in Europe. After marriage she and Ted continued their travels during summer breaks to countries all around the world and the US. After their son Ted III was born, they continued traveling as a family and had many fond memories that they enjoyed sharing. Georgena enjoyed accompanying her husband and son on many hunting and camping trips and working with Explorer Post 29.

When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in August 2017, the Bailey home flooded for the first time as did many others in Houston. At 85 years of age they chose to rebuild on their lot. With the help of their son Ted, they were back in their brand new home by New Year’s Day 2019 in time to host their annual Black Eyed Pea Open House that their friends and family always looked forward to.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Caledonia Rosalee Parks Bagby, brother Burton Holloway Parks, and sisterin-law Helen May Bailey Green and her husband Don.

Georgena is survived by her husband Theodore E. “Ted” Bailey Jr and son Theodore E. “Ted” Bailey III and his fiancee Martha Martinez. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews including Elizabeth Bagby Schooler, Milton Parks Bagby, Burton

Bagby-Grose, Cheryl Green Friederman, Scott Green, and numerous great and greatgreat nieces and nephews.

Her funeral service with burial following will be Monday, August 29, at 2:00pm at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home and Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer Rd, Houston TX 77077, Mausoleum chapel.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or a charity of your choice.