Alvin K. Bailey

To The Extended "Worley" Family My heartfelt sypathy goes out to each of you on the loss of your beloved uncle Tommy. I wanted to take a moment to not only extend my sympathy, but to share a very personal story with you about how Tommy touched my life. He was, indeed, a very special man. I don't know how many may recall or even be aware that Tommy taught for at least one year at the McDonald Scool in Maple Meadow. It was a one-room school serving a very small community. We all walked to it, and even though the classes were small and many of the students were extended family, the quality of our learning was exceptional. I have so many clear memories of that year in the first grade with Mr. Worly as my teacher, but a few I'd like to share. I could (and should) take the time to capture some of those memories in writing. Perhaps at some point in the near future I will. Tommy did an outstanding job as a teacher. So good, in fact, that when McDonald closed after my second grade year and we were transitioned to the Fairdale Elementary School, most of us from Maple Meadow were well ahead of our classmates in the basic "3-R" classes. You see, even then Tommy practiced what some students today are exposed to in the "gifted programs". All of us sat in segmented but open areas of the big open classroom, each grade or two grades being co-located. Tommy would work with each grade level, and give instructions to complete our assignments. If we did well, and completed our work quickly and efficiently, we were allowed then to listen and sometimes participate with the older classes. Thus, we were exposed almost daily to the learning levels of the older students. If we excelled at our own levels we were often allowed to actively participate in the older students' classes. Among the many fond memories is how Tommy would arrive extra early in the cold winter months, bank up a big fire in the coal-and-wood burning stove located in the middle of the room, and have the classroom warm and comfortable for us when we arrived. Some of us walked two miles or more to the school and on winter days would be half frozen. My very special memory though, is what he did for me on my 7th birthday. Like most of the children in the area we came from poor families where a dime seemed a fortune to a child. But on my 7th birthday, April 8th, 1956 I got to school early wearing a new red jacket. I hung it in the "cloak-room", and went in to class. Later that morning, after we had said our Pledge of Allegiance and sung America The Beautiful, Tommy stopped by my desk. It was a double desk, two students wide, and I was sharing it with Ernest Bailey. Tommy leaned over and whispered "happy birthday" to me, and told me to check my jacket pocket at recess, and I'd find something in it for my birthday. It was to be our secret. Naturally I was excited, but when recess finally came and I checked my jacket pocket I found a 50-cent piece. I was overwhelmed. I may have had that much money before, but if so I can't remember it. That memory is a clear today as it was well over 50 years ago. There are so many good memories of Tommy and the fun we had at lunch times and recess. But I especially recall the special things he did with us on the special days, like Easter, Christmas and Valentine's Day. I also recall the special way he taught us, and how I remember and use those learnings still today. I can tell by the wording of Tommy's obituary that he was cherished by his family, and rightfully so. I just wanted you to know that he was loved, admired, respected and appreciated by those of us who were fortunate enough to be his students as well. Warmest Regards, Al (Alvin) Bailey Roanoke, VA