Norman Bailey

On Saturday, August 22, 1953, a baby boy was born at #9 – 2^ND Street, Mount Lambert in Trinidad and Tobago.  That baby boy was Norman Bailey Junior.  Junior, the name by which he was more fondly known, attended Mt. Lambert R.C. School, and then moved on to Ideal High School in Port of Spain. In 1970 Junior met the love of his life, Carol John-Baptiste and married her on July 8^th, 1973.  In 1974, Norman and Carol welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Nathalie and three years later in 1977, a bouncing baby boy, Clayton Bailey would be born.  Seventeen years later, Junior had another son, Hakeem.

Junior loved soccer and represented the Blackpool soccer team in Trinidad. He earned the nickname “Foots” as he was known to kick the soccer ball with extreme intensity and flagrant disregard for the possibility of whom the ball would hurt.  He also ran track and was an avid card player, most proficient in the All Fours and Rummy games. Junior was a fanatical member and supporter of Catelli (now Massey All Stars) Steelband and demonstrated admirable dexterity when he played the bass drums. He worked at Neal and Massy (Massey) for a short period as an assembler and then did a short stint at United Grocers. He would return to Massey company to work for several years as a welder, while plying his trade as a cab driver until he migrated to the United States in 1990.

Junior was the quintessential Trinbagonian and a fine gentleman. The type of individual who, in spite of having left our twin island state many years before, had not lost the essence of what defined him as a “Trini” and the social side of his life lacked for nothing.  Junior was very congenial and made long lasting friendships wherever he went. He maintained his relationship with his “liming partners” and often ventured out of state to spend time with his Trinbagonian buddies, and of course, participated in the annual New York Labor Day Carnival. Junior was the consummate “Family man”. He was always present at most of his Bailey and John-Baptiste family gatherings often with his culinary contribution as prepared by Carol.

Norman “Junior” Bailey Jr. passed away on October 14, 2022 at the age of 69, in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His battle with cancer showed his courage. Despite the pain, Junior came out a hero and stayed strong until the end.

Junior is survived by Carol Bailey, his wife of 49 years and his children Nathalie Weekes (Kazim), Clayton Bailey (Jennifer) and Hakeem Bailey and his grandchildren, Dashawn Zamore, Kelon Weekes, Isaiah Bailey, Jeremiah Bailey, Jaylen Bailey, Kylah Weekes and Hakeem Bailey Jr.

Junior also leaves to mourn his siblings Ralph Bailey (Daphne), Herman Bailey (Antoinette), Norma Johnson (Anthony), Irma Bailey, Onieka Bailey-Aubourg (Francois), Lorna Thompson (Anthony), Dexter David (Joanne), Vilma Bailey-Hasan (Sal Hasan), Elizabeth David, a host of in-laws, cousins, nephews, nieces, family and friends. Junior is preceded in death by his parents, Norman Bailey Sr. and Doris Bailey, and his sister, Norva Hood (Anthony).

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