Lawrence R. Bailey, '36
Lawyer
Jamaica Community Leader
1918-1998
Lawrence R. Bailey, Sr., a prominent trial attorney, civic leader and civil rights pioneer passed away on Thursday, April 23, 1998 after a sudden illness. He was 80.
Mr. Bailey, Sr. was born to Charles Wesley Bailey and Alma Small Bailey on March 31, 1918. He was educated in New York City Public School 40 and graduated from Jamaica High School. Mr. Bailey received a B.A. from Howard University and a J.D. degree from Howard University Law School. He was admitted to practice law in the State of New York in 1943. He was also admitted to practice in New York Federal Courts, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States on motion of the Honorable Thurgood Marshall.
Lawrence Bailey, Sr. was a World War II Army veteran of the Pacific Theater - Operations where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and honorably discharged as a Chief Warrant Officer.
In April, 1970, Lawrence was the first African American appointed to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board (MTA) where he served under three Mayors and retired as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation. Mr. Bailey also served as President of the Harlem Lawyers Association, Regional Director of the National Bar Association, member of the Legal Aid Amistad Housing and Development Corporation. He was Counsel to the Howard Alumni of Greater New York, as well as Honorary Vice Chairman of the Jamaica Branch NAACP.
Lawrence was assistant counsel to Rudolph Haley, City Council President. He served as Board member of the Southeast Queens Redevelopment Corporation, Community Planning Board 10 G.N.Y.C. Boy Scouts of America, the Pride of Jamaica Elks Lodge #217, veterans of Foreign Wars Procter-Hopsun Post No. 1896, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, New York Alumni Chapter, and the United Black Men of Queens, Inc.
Affectionately called "Brick," he won the first barbershop racial discrimination case before a jury in Jamaica in 1952. He won the first police brutality judgment in Nassau County involving a Jamaica resident in 1953 with a judgement of $48,000 which was an unprecedented amount at that time.
Mr. Bailey served as Chairman of the Legal Redress Committee of the NAACP and for five of those years, served as New York State Council for the NAACP. He traveled and litigated matters throughout the state in some areas where a black lawyer had never been seen.... [He] operated a solo law office in Harlem until forming a partnership with his son Lamont, in 1988, under the name Bailey & Prior to relocating their office to St. Albans, Queens, Lawrence serviced the Harlem community for over 50 years.
In 1979, Lawrence was baptized and joined Calvary Baptist Church, Jamaica, N.Y. under the leadership of Dr. James C. Kelly, Pastor. In 1988, Pastor Kelly organized the New Jerusalem Baptist Church in Jamaica, N.Y., which Lawrence joined and served as the church attorney.
Lawrence was gratified by his family and their educational achievements, he married the former Norma Thomas on May 20, 1961. The couple has four children, Atty. Lawrence, Jr., Dr. Bruce, Atty. Lamont and Susan, an elementary school teacher.... Mr. Bailey's life was an example for his family, the legal profession and the communities in which he served. He will be sorely missed by all who were privileged to have known him.
Quoted from: Prominent Queens Trial Attorney Dead At 80.
New York Voice, Inc. Harlem USA. Jamaica: May 6, 1998.Vol.40, Iss. 5; pg. 1
JAMAICA HIGH SCHOOL NOTEWORTHY ALUMNI : : : : : : : : 12/27/05