Longevity. Commitment. Success. These are just a few of the qualities that describe Donna Bailey.
She has all those qualities and more. From her work in Macon, GA, to USTA Georgia to USTA Southern to USTA, Bailey has been the consummate leader in all her decades of work in tennis.
|
Donna Bailey, left, receives the 2018 USTA Woodie Walker C.A.R.E Award.
|
For starters, she has been a volunteer or staff person at the Macon Area Tennis Association for 35 years, retiring in 2017. She has been the local league coordinator and captain of many teams. She is also a past president of the Macon Area Tennis Association and has been honored with the 2009 Junior Tournament of the Year, as she served as tournament director of the Georgia Junior Qualifying Championships, the John Drew Smith Memorial Award, Official of the Year Award and the Mary Hatfield Spirit of Tennis Award.
Her local accomplishments led her to be appointed to leadership roles at USTA Georgia including president in 2007 and 2008 along with a seat on the Georgia Board of Directors for 12 years. Her state awards include the 2004 Georgia Official of the Year and the 2010 Ruth Lay Award.
Bailey is also a veteran in working for USTA Southern. She has volunteered as a delegate-at-large, served on the USTA Southern Adult League Committee and as a past USTA Southern Multicultural Committee chairman. She has held the post of USTA Southern Budget and Finance Review Committee vice chair. Other awards she has received are the USTA Southern Gerrie Rothwell Award, the USTA Southern Jacobs Bowl, the USTA Nicholas Powel Award and the USTA Woodie Walker C.A.R.E Award, given to a USTA officials for extraordinary serve at the US Open.
One of Bailey’s greatest passions is officiating. Her experience goes back over 30 years as she has served as tournament director or referee for many tournaments at local, state, sectional, and national levels. Along with the local and state awards she has received for officiating, Bailey served on the USTA Officials Committee as a member and chairman and is currently a National USTA Trainer for tennis learning and Vice-Chairman of USTA Tennis Rules and Regulations Committee.
Serving is in Bailey’s blood and she has taught Sunday School teacher at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church for over 20 years, in addition to organizing food and clothing drives for the less fortunate. She is a member of the Museum of Arts and Science Guild.
Bailey was born in Omaha, NE, and moved to Macon, GA, in 1980. She is a mother of two sons, and a grandmother of three.