Pearl Bailey was a popular singer, actress, and ambassador who graduated from Georgetown with a Bachelor's in Theology in 1985, at the age of 67.
Career before Attending Georgetown
Bailey was born on March 29, 1918 in Southampton County, Virginia. She grew up in Newport News, beginning her singing career at 15 after entering a local competition. Despite harboring dreams to be a schoolteacher, Bailey dropped out of high school and continued to perform professionally in Philadelphia. At the beginning of World War II, Bailey toured with USO and performed for American troops.
Bailey rose to fame after she released her song "Takes Two to Tango" in 1952. She made her theater debut in 1946 in the Broadway show St. Louis Woman and won a Tony for her performance as Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly in 1968. She was also widely known for her roles in films such as Porgy and Bess and Carmen Jones. Bailey even hosted her own television show, The Pearl Bailey Show in 1971.1
During this time, Bailey also served as the "Ambassador of Love" for the Nixon administration, attending several meetings at the United Nations.2 In 1975, Bailey was appointed Special Ambassador to the United Nations by Gerald Ford. She performed for world leaders including Anwar Sadat of Egypt and King Hussein of Jordan. Through her position, she was able to raise awareness for causes she was passionate about, notably AIDS research and children in Palestinian and African refugee camps.
Bailey received honorary degrees from multiple universities, such as Syracuse University and Governors State University. In 1977, she received one from Georgetown. At the commencement ceremony where she received her degree, Bailey remarked, "Who knows, folks. I may be coming to this school."
Life at Georgetown
Bailey had been passionate about education all her life but never had the chance to continue her schooling. At age 58, Bailey enrolled at Georgetown as a Freshman. The students' response to Bailey was mixed. Some felt uncomfortable at the prospect of a celebrity who was as old as their parents taking classes with them. Some were excited to see the famous celebrity. Regardless, Bailey fully embraced her time at Georgetown — she was frequently seen dancing with Georgetown cheerleaders and visiting her classmates' homes.
Bailey initially enrolled at Georgetown as a French major and later changed to Theology. In an interview in the Orleans Oracle conducted in 1979, Bailey explained this decision and said, "It's easier to talk with the Lord than it is to know French."
Bailey was unable to graduate in four years as a result of her busy career outside of Georgetown. On one occasion, she was personally excused for missing class by President Gerald Ford, who wrote, "Mrs. Ford and I will personally supervise any study assignments she may have." But for the most part, Bailey continued to balance her studies and her career.
In an interview before her graduation, Bailey recounted the diverse range of classes she took at Georgetown. From "The Path of Love in Hinduism" to "Jesus the Jew" and "Islamic Teaching," Bailey was a hardworking student who made the dean's list two or three times.3
After five years at Georgetown, Bailey graduated as the oldest member of the Class of 1985. At Commencement, Bailey gave a speech to the graduating class and ended by singing: "Nobody can do it for you but you...All your dreams will simply be pinned on you."4
After Graduation
Bailey continued to travel extensively as an ambassador of the United States after her graduation. Bailey wrote a total of six books, three of them memoirs that ranged from her work at the United Nations to wisdom in cooking.
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan awarded her a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
On August 17, 1990, Bailey died from heart failure at the age of 72 in Philadelphia. Thousands of people attended her funeral where Bailey's close friend, Rabbi Harold White, Jewish Chaplain and lecturer in Theology at Georgetown, delivered the homily. On October 29, 1990, Georgetown organized a University Mass for the late Pearl Bailey at Dahlgren Chapel.5
In her memoir, Between You and Me (1989), Bailey recounted her time at Georgetown and pushed other senior citizens to continue to chase after their dreams. Bailey continues to serve as an inspiration to those who want to return to school but are worried about their age. The world will remember her as a singer, actress, dancer, diplomat, but Georgetown will always remember her as a fellow Hoya.
- 1Booth Family Center for Special Collections. "And when she danced her way across these grounds: Pearl Bailey at Georgetown University," Georgetown University Library, 14 Aug 2015. https://library.georgetown.edu/exhibition/and-when-she-danced-her-way-across-these-grounds-pearl-bailey-georgetown-university
- 2Waggoner, Cassandra. "Pearl Mae Bailey (1918-1990)," Blackpast, 27 May 2009. https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/bailey-pearl-mae-1918-1990/
- 3Trescott, Jacqueline. "Pearl Bailey, the Graduate," Washington Post, 25 May 1985. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1985/05/25/pearl-bailey-the-graduate/ed8e3af4-5aeb-4096-b6b6-c2a9330c2252/
- 4Ibid.
- 5Ibid.
