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Women's History Month homage to former Batavia resident is Sunday in Rochester

By Billie Owens

Press release:

First Community Interfaith Institute. Inc., (a spiritual and cultural organization plus a teaching church based in Southeast Rochester) is paying homage to a former Batavia resident for its Women’s History Month observation at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 9, 219 Hamilton St. in Rochester.

Mary Bailey (1932-2005) was a trustee of First Community Interfaith Institute, Inc. She was one of the Institute’s strongest supporters and she worked for the success of First Community Interfaith Institute, Inc.

She was the mother of Sylvester Johnson and the grandmother of Stacey Johnson. In 1986, Sylvester, Stacey and a friend of Stacey were killed in a sudden and tragic car accident involving an emergency vehicle outside the current Six Flags at Darien Lake.

Until she passed, Mrs. Bailey was instrumental in organizing the annual Sylvester and Stacey Johnson Memorial in both Batavia and Rochester. First Community Interfaith Institute, Inc., was founded in 1970 by National Minister Lawrance Lee Evans under the philosophy of “Doology.” It offers spiritual and cultural programs all year round, and as a teaching church, it operates a tutoring program geared to the needs of both youth and adults.

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