Iris V Bailey

To Everything There Is A Season,
And A Time to Every Purpose Under The Heaven…
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Iris Vivian, born December 10, 1923, in Chicago, Illinois, was Jessie James McCracklin and Pearl Beatrice Whitley’s 5th and youngest daughter, with three brothers born after her. Perhaps her birth position in the family contributed to her feistiness, called “spunk” in her day, her unique sense of humor, and her strength as a woman.

However, the real source of Iris’ strength was God’s presence in her life. She joined the Apostolic Pentecostal Church of Morgan Park in the early 1950s and she was a devoted church goer in Chicago and later in Los Angeles, rarely missing church on Sundays in over 60 years. She was a steadfast believer in God and in his Word, and prayed unceasingly all of her life.

She graduated from Christian Fenger High School in Chicago in 1941. Later, she worked for the Social Security Board, and as a crossing guard for the Chicago Police Department. In Los Angeles, she worked a short time for the Selective Service Board, and then with Los Angeles County DPSS, as an Eligibility Worker, where she retired after 24 years.

“I’ve always liked libraries and I like to listen to children read.” This quote by Iris was published in an article in the Los Angeles Sentinel, February 9, 1989. For several years after she retired, Iris volunteered at the Angeles Mesa Library as part of a reading enhancement program for children, where children read to seniors and seniors read to children. She supported her community 110% preferring not going outside of her community to shop or for services. When events were held at Leimert Park Square, Baldwin Hills Mall or Angeles Mesa Park, she was there front and center.

What some people may not have known about Iris Vivian is not only was she a faithful tither, after she retired she gave very generously to many and varied charities. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 talks about giving. Iris embodied these scriptures as she was a cheerful giver, God’s grace certainly abounded in her life, and she had sufficiency in all things… as it pertained to her life.

Iris was divorced and with God's grace she raised her children primarily by herself. And, while youngsters, all of her children went to church with her every Sunday.

Iris is preceded in death by her parents, her seven siblings, her sons Dion and David, and her grandson Vincent Thomas. She is survived by her daughters Eunice and Teena (Phillip), sons Bruce and Kyle (Desiree), and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Iris Vivian now Rests in Peace