HONORING AN ICON
Shelby County courthouse renamed in honor of the late Judge D’Army Bailey.
The Shelby County Commission, in an 11-0 vote last week, approved a resolution that renames the county courthouse the D’Army Bailey Courthouse Building, in honor of the late Circuit Court judge and founder of the National Civil Rights Museum.
The resolution was sponsored by Commissioner Terry Roland, who said he wanted to recognize both Judge Bailey and his family.
“I hurt for the Bailey family,” Roland said. “If this can bring a little solace to y’all, it means a lot to me and I know it means a lot to y’all.”
Two signs, both 8 feet by 3 feet, will be placed at the southwest and the southeast entrances of the courthouse at 140 Adams.
A ceremony will be held to unveil the new signs, but the details have not been finalized, Roland said.
The resolution was co-sponsored by commissioners Eddie Jones, Justin Ford, Van Turner (who was absent), Reginald Milton, Willie Brooks, Melvin Burgess, Mark Billingsley and Steve Basar. Also voting in favor was Commissioner Heidi Shafer. Commissioner David Reaves abstained. “He was a great man; he stood up for right,” Burgess said.
“I think it’s the right thing to do; in fact I know it’s the right thing to do,” said Brooks.
Judge Bailey, the brother of County Commissioner Walter Bailey, died on July 12 after a battle with cancer. He was 73. Attending the commission meeting were Judge Bailey’s widow, Adrienne Bailey, and sons Justin Bailey and Merritt Bailey.
The family received a standing ovation from those in the commission chambers.
“As everyone here knows, he served the community with everything he had for a long time,” Justin Bailey said. “He gave a lot; he gave everything he had. And to honor him this way is befitting, also humbling. We just can’t thank you enough for this consideration.”
“My husband, what a champion,” said Adrienne Bailey, who was presented with a bouquet of pink roses. “I know he’s so happy, so happy with all the love and outpouring of appreciation. He knows what’s happening now because D’Army knows everything. I appreciate this. This is a great honor.”
Judge Bailey served as a Circuit Court judge from 1990 to 2006, when he retired.
He was elected to the bench again in 2014.
It was Judge Bailey who took the lead in the work to transform the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, into the National Civil Rights Museum.
With funds amassed from a contingent of donors and supporters, he bought the motel on the courthouse steps in 1982 for $144,000, and after years of work and fundraising, the $9.2 million museum opened in 1991.
Last year, the museum completed a $28 million renovation and expansion with events that also praised Bailey’s contribution.