Kayla Bailey’s legacy lives on. Kayla, a 2015 graduate of McIntosh High, passed away suddenly in May 2018 after her sophomore year of college, and her parents, Roderick and Crystal Bailey, are honoring their daughter’s life in multiple ways.
The Kayla’s Kreation Scholarship was created to honor aspiring scholars who shared a love of the arts like Kalya. She was a graphic design major at Chowan University, so applicants must be graduating seniors planning to major in fine, visual, or performing arts with a minimum GPA of 2.5.
Sara Brito, a McIntosh graduate, was named the winner of the first Kayla’s Kreation Scholarship. She will be attending Mercer University this year, then transferring to Emerson College in Boston to pursue a degree in Film and Production. Her dream is to become a director and screenwriter.
Following along those lines, they also founded Kayla’s Kloset to help girls prepare for events like prom and homecoming without the high costs associated with purchasing dresses, shoes, and accessories.
“Kayla was a fashionista, so my wife Crystal and I wanted to honor her memory by providing dresses, shoes, and accessories for young girls who are underrepresented and underserved in the Atlanta area to give them the opportunity to look and feel beautiful on their special occasions,” said Roderick.
They reached out to schools, school counselors, and community groups in eight counties before partnering with the ladies of FASKIA (Friends and Sisters Keepers In Action) in Powder Springs. The first participants were a group of 10 girls heading to their 8th grade dance at Tapp Middle School, a Partner in Education with FASKIA.
“These ladies helped bring Kayla’s Kloset to life, and we are truly grateful,” Roderick said of FASKIA. “We look forward to servicing more schools in the future to honor our beloved Kayla.”
I can’t imagine the pain of losing a child, but this is a commendable way to honor their daughter. Mr. and Ms. Bailey are shining stars in our community.