{"id":4431,"date":"2016-03-07T17:01:59","date_gmt":"2016-03-08T01:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogschapman.wpenginepowered.com\/alumni\/2016\/03\/07\/a-chapman-family-legacy-lives-on-remembering-edgar-bailey-jr-64\/"},"modified":"2026-03-12T21:19:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T21:19:50","slug":"a-chapman-family-legacy-lives-on-remembering-edgar-bailey-jr-64","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.chapman.edu\/alumni\/2016\/03\/07\/a-chapman-family-legacy-lives-on-remembering-edgar-bailey-jr-64\/","title":{"rendered":"A Chapman Family Legacy Lives On: Remembering Edgar Bailey, Jr. '64"},"content":{"rendered":"

Edgar Eugene Bailey, Jr. ’64\u00a0<\/strong>was part of a long line of Chapman alumni, and his legacy\u00a0continues to live on through other Chapman Family members of his own family tree. Edgar\u00a0was born Sept. 17, 1939 in Houston, Tex. to Rev. Edgar Eugene Bailey, Sr. and Ariel Ivae Augustine Bailey.\u00a0He graduated in 1957 from Phyllis Wheatley High School in Houston, where he excelled in academics, JROTC, swimming, martial arts and wrestling. He attended the University of Houston\u00a0to study engineering and was\u00a0one of the first African-American students admitted to the university. In 1962, Edgar\u00a0transferred\u00a0to Chapman University as a sociology major\u00a0where\u00a0he met his wife, Karen Ellen Finley ’64<\/strong>. They married on May 1, 1965 in a simple ceremony performed by Edgar’s\u00a0former Chapman roommate and close friend, Bob Vinson ’64<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

According to their daughter, Ariel Bailey Fernald ’90<\/strong>, Edgar first saw Karen\u00a0at Orange First Christian Church where she was serving as a lay leader. They met when Edgar\u00a0joined the International Club, a campus\u00a0club Karen was president of, which sponsored\u00a0activities to help students learn about and celebrate other cultures, and\u00a0supported students from other countries in integrating into college life in America.<\/p>\n

Edgar and Karen\u00a0found they shared much in common, including their love for different cultures and foods, the arts, dancing, family, and their faith. One of their favorite activities together was their visit to Los Angeles’ Olivera Street and China Town with other International Club members (pictured below).<\/p>\n

Between 1965 and 1986, Edgar and Karen\u00a0had 14 children together. While raising his family with Karen,\u00a0Edgar\u00a0worked for the Orange County Juvenile Hall as a family guidance counselor, and was one of the first two\u00a0African-Americans hired for this position in the county. After working for the county for nearly 10 years, he changed his career path and worked for Pacific Bell for 20 years. Edgar, who passed away Dec. 26, 2015, retired in 1994, following the passing of his beloved wife in 1993.<\/p>\n

“It was the wonderful stories of their Chapman days and the talk of the importance of education that influenced all of us children to pursue higher education degrees,” said Ariel. As a result, 12 of Edgar and Karen’s 14\u00a0children pursued\u00a0higher education, and the remaining\u00a0two achieved\u00a0formal training and certification in their chosen fields. Ariel said her father was “not only an amazing father to his own children, but a mentor and life coach for so many others who crossed his path.”<\/p>\n

Though she graduated in 1990, Ariel is presently very active within the Chapman community. She spoke at the Don Will commemoration in May 2015 and chaired her Class of 1990’s 25-Year Reunion<\/a> at the 2015 Chapman Family Homecoming Celebration. She says that she and her husband, Trey Fernald\u00a0’91<\/strong>, may hold their film premier at Chapman. Trey was a\u00a0Chapman lead actor, member of Pi Kappa Alpha, president of the Performing Arts Society and homecoming king. Following her father’s footsteps, Ariel was involved in a number of Chapman organizations, including ASB leadership, choir and Roots of Rock ‘n’ Roll shows. She also won awards and held many positions at her alma mater, including resident assistant, chair of the senior\u00a0class gift committee and Outstanding Senior Woman. Ariel says her family\u00a0anticipates the\u00a0fourth generation of Finley-Bailey Chapman students to begin their Chapman careers\u00a0within the next two years.<\/p>\n

“As a black man in the Sixties in this country, (my father) had plenty of reason to be skeptical about people, especially of other cultures, but instead, he embraced all people,” Ariel said. “In the early 1960s when my parents were at Chapman, there were police officers that would stop them on the streets and ask my mother if she was ‘where she wanted to be’ (referring to her being with a black man). When they married in 1965, it was not legal in several states in this country. Despite these facts, my father walked in love and belief in the human potential to grow and change for the better. He devoted his life to helping others rise above circumstances to achieve their greatest potential. As a counselor for the county of Orange, he worked with troubled youth and families. As a father, he raised us with this belief. And for the countless others who crossed his path, he encouraged and coached them in every opportunity.”<\/p>\n

Bob Vinson claimed that Edgar\u00a0“was a man who loved people and was generous in every way. He offered up his wisdom, experiences, wealth and all that he was for the benefit of others. He was truly a loving and generous man who believed that one act of kindness and encouragement could make a significant difference in this world. He never passed up the opportunity to be that difference in someone\u2019s life.”<\/p>\n

Edgar\u00a0was an avid student of the Bible, world and military history, and stayed informed on current events. He also enjoyed watching movies and writing short stories. During the last three years of his life,\u00a0he wrote a\u00a0collection of works called Legacy\u2014<\/em>a comprehensive documentation of his family history and anecdotes for the benefit of his children and grandchildren. Above all, according to Ariel, he considered himself “a man after God\u2019s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22). Ariel says her father\u00a0loved and lived for his family, with whom he shared and passed on his passion for God and life. He was a part of several ministries, and some of his children have chosen to serve full-time in\u00a0ministry.<\/p>\n

Edgar\u00a0is survived by his 14 children: Margaret, Edgar, Ariel, Don, Barbara, David, Mary, Eddi, Hansel, Jesse, Samuel, Isaac, James and Noraline; and his 28 grandchildren: Karyn, Tatiana, Sierra, Luke, Samuel, James, Vanessa, Jack, Olivia, Juliana, Chase, Matthew, Nathan, Jared, Caleb, Jesia, Justus, Jalon, Judah, Jordan, Abigail, Elijah, Kenneth, Kaiden, Krawford, Kingston, Desiree and Charles.<\/p>\n

Nine of Edgar and Karen’s\u00a0family members also graduated from Chapman:<\/p>\n