Ms. Elender G. Bailey

Gladys Elender Bailey (AKA Snooks) was born April 13, 1937 to Rev. Edward F. and Elender Bailey at Evanston Community Hospital.

She graduated from Evanston High School in 1955. She became the first Black manager at Burger King in downtown Evanston. After completion of Signature Secretarial School, she worked for Washington National for several years until they closed. She went on to work for Walgreens until she retired.

Elender was one of the original founding members of Bethel AME

Church and was a faithful member from her childhood until her death.

As a Bethel member she sang in multiple choirs, served as a member of the Mary I. Wright Lay Organization, the Visitation and Concern Committee (VCM), the Fannie Ellison Missionary Society and as President of the Class Leaders.

She was a close sister to her brothers Crawford Burns and Elmer

Bailey and her best friend and sister Frances Henderson who preceded her in death. Prior to falling ill, she and her brother Harold Bailey of Georgia spent time in prayer multiple times a week on the prayer lines from their respective churches.

She enhanced the lives of her family and friends with her uncanny sense of humor and storytelling. She was the beloved aunt of countless nieces and nephews who fondly remember her "Grandma Goochy" character she would become at family holiday parties. She was responsible for teaching many of her nieces, nephews, and other Bethel youth how to drive and took them to their license. In her spare fime Elender was an avid bowler and enjoyed many years bowling in a league.

Aunt Elender's memory and life live on in the hearts of her brother

Harold Bailey, close friend Martha Ross and God sons Joel and Noel Dyer, a host of nieces and nephews and close friends.

Please keep the family in your prayers.

Arrangements entrusted to Thompson Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc. Mr. Philip L. Gillette ~ Funeral Director

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