SHREVEPORT, LA - Alberta Nelson Bailey went to be with the Lord on September 1, 2010, one month short of her 99th birthday (photo shown taken on her 95th birthday). She is preceded in death by her husband James Edwin Bailey, Jr, her parents Gilbert and Lillie Pereau Nelson of Cherokee, Okla­homa, three sisters Frances Stanley, Hil­dred Wright, Doris Burkey, and son-in-law, Robert Bruce Owen. She is survived by four children: Ney Bailey of Frisco, Texas, Brenda Owen of Pasadena, California and Bigfork, Montana, James Edwin Bailey, III of Shreve­port, and Kim Bailey of Keithville, La. She loved her four grandchildren: Eddie (Lin­dyne) Bailey of Nashville Tennessee, Brook Nelson (Andrea) Bailey of Dallas, Texas, Ashley Owen (Daniel) Reid of London, England and Jeffrey Terrill Owen of Pasadena, California. She was blessed to have four great-grandchildren Holden and Emaline Bailey, Miles Bailey, and Griffin Reid.

The youngest of four sisters, Alberta was born in 1911 in Jet, Oklahoma on a pictur­esque farm. She attended college at Oklahoma's Northwestern in 1928 when it was rare for a woman to seek higher education. Louisiana became her home when she married attorney Ed Bailey.

In October of 1939, Alberta joined the efforts of George Pierce and worked diligent­ly to help establish Broadmoor Methodist Church. Not only was she a Charter Member, she attended faithfully, sang in the choir, typed the church bulletin, and participated in the Friendship Class that she loved. Remarkably, she drove there every Sunday until she was 94!

Alberta was recognized year after year by Mary Graham, President of Women of Faith, for being a woman of faith, vision, and action. Through Alberta's gentle per­sistence, she led the campaign to have the Women of Faith Conference scheduled in Shreveport/Bossier at the Century Tel Arena from 2001 to 2010! She believed in the power of one voice and she made hers count.

Throughout the years she served in many voluntary leadership capacities in church, scouts, March of Dimes, in school as a room mother and PTA President, tutoring, and supported too many charities to list. Her vast seeds of thoughtfulness were sown abundantly.

As you add up these treasured pieces, you will have only a glimpse of Alberta and a tiny glimmer of her nearly ten decades. It is significant that her children know she has modeled one characteristic that outshines all the rest combined. the legacy to love and honor family.

Her family offers special thanks to Azalea Estates, Live Oak Nursing Home, Christus Schumpert Hospice, especially Chris King, and Mother's loyal caretakers Paulette Jor­dan, Charlotte Cleveland, and Tammy Bowman.

Dr. Ken Irby will conduct a memorial service at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday September 8, 2010 at Broadmoor United Methodist Church Chapel. A private burial was held at Forest Park Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be given to Broadmoor United Methodist Church or St. Jude Children's Hospital.

Rose-Neath Funeral Home

Southside Chapel (318) 687-1256