Cornelia Walker Bailey facts for kids

Cornelia Walker Bailey (born June 12, 1945 – died October 15, 2017) was a special storyteller, writer, and historian. She worked hard to protect and share the unique Geechee-Gullah culture of Sapelo Island, Georgia.

Growing Up on Sapelo Island

Cornelia Walker Bailey was born on June 12, 1945. Her parents were Hicks Walker and Hettie Bryant. She grew up in a community called Belle Marsh on Sapelo Island. Many families there were descendants of formerly enslaved people who bought land on the island.

Her Family's History

Cornelia was a descendant of Bilali Muhammad. He was an enslaved person and a Muslim from West Africa. He was brought to Sapelo Island in 1803. Bilali Muhammad was very important. By 1810, he managed all the work on the plantation. He also brought one of the first known Islamic texts to the Americas. This was a 13-page document about Muslim law and prayer.

Cornelia's father, Hicks Walker, often worked at the mansion on Sapelo Island. This mansion was once the center of the plantation where Bilali Muhammad lived.

Protecting Geechee-Gullah Culture

Cornelia Bailey left Sapelo Island for a short time. She lived with family on St. Simons Island. In 1966, she returned to Sapelo Island and settled in Hog Hammock. There, she ran a guest house called The Wallow Lodge. She ran it with her husband, Julius "Frank" Bailey, and their seven children.

A Saltwater Geechee Voice

Cornelia was very proud of her heritage. She called herself a "Saltwater Geechee." She worked to save and record Geechee-Gullah stories and traditions. This was important because the island's population was shrinking. Also, more wealthy people were building large vacation homes there.

She taught traditional crafts she learned from her father. These included basket weaving, cast net knitting, and collecting herbs. She was known as a griot. This means she was a storyteller and an unofficial historian for Sapelo Island.

In 1989, Cornelia traveled to Sierra Leone in West Africa. She wanted to find connections between Sapelo Island and West African traditions. She noticed similar building styles, farming methods, and cooking styles.

Community Efforts

Cornelia Bailey helped start the Sapelo Island Cultural and Revitalization Society in 1993. She was the vice president. They began organizing "Sapelo Island Cultural Days" every October. These events brought tourists to the island. This helped create money to protect the community.

Sharing Stories Through Writing

Cornelia Bailey also shared her knowledge through books.

Her First Book

Her first book was a memoir called "God, Dr. Buzzard, and the Bolito Man: A Saltwater Geechee Talks About Life on Sapelo Island, Georgia." She wrote it with Christena Bledsoe, and it came out in 2000. The book shares stories about her childhood. It also tells tales about her ancestors and the history of Sapelo Island.

Documenting Oral Traditions

In 2003, she was one of the authors of "Sapelo Voices." This book collected interviews from older island residents. Cornelia asked them questions and shared memories of the past.

Bringing Back Old Crops

Cornelia Bailey worked with food experts to bring back old crops.

Purple Ribbon Sugarcane

She helped bring back Purple Ribbon sugarcane. This type of sugarcane was almost gone. They planted it on her farm in Hog Hammock. The first harvest of this sugarcane syrup happened right after she passed away in 2017.

Sapelo Red Peas

Cornelia and her family also worked to grow Sapelo Red Peas. This was the first time these peas were grown for sale. Their first harvest was in 2014. She had many friends and helpers, including scientists and chefs. They supported her work with farming and food.

Her Lasting Impact

In 2004, Cornelia Bailey received a Governor's Award in the Humanities. This award honored her work in preserving culture. She passed away on October 15, 2017, in Brunswick, Georgia, at 72 years old. Her work continues to inspire people to learn about and protect the Geechee-Gullah culture.