By Rosalyn Queen
On Oct. 10, 1996, Tom and Maria Lucente Bailey welcomed into this world a beautiful little girl and she was named Marissa Maria Bailey. Her proud grandparents were the late Joe and Velma Lopez Lucente and the late James and Dot Bailey. Like all the other little girls in the neighborhood, she attended Nutter Fort Grade School, Washington Irving Middle School and Robert C. Byrd High School where she served as student body president.
When she was only two and a half years old, she danced with the festival dancers, under the direction of Ramona Rose. She has participated in every festival since then. She soon learned that music was her love and under the guidance of Pam Pinti Krall, she developed into a beautiful songstress who was in demand in the area. She was a cantor at All Saints Church under the direction of Stephen Pishner and performed the National Anthem at many local events. She performed leading roles in “The Sound of Music” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” She participated in the Miss West Virginia pageant and placed first runner up and was awarded in the talent division.
Family is very important to the Baileys. Her grandmother was a member of the Lopez family that operated a market in North View and the Lucentes operated a grocery store in Summit Park.
She enrolled at West Virginia University and received bachelor’s degrees in musical theatre and journalism and then received her master’s in integrated marketing communications. She studied abroad and spent a week in Italy. She volunteered for community theatre and is a member of the Sons and Daughters of Italy.
She is employed by WVU Medicine as a special events coordinator.
Maria, at this year’s gala. Photo by Tyler Vincent Hart of
Fortitude Productions.
Because of the pandemic, she has had to wait almost three years to fulfill her dream. If you can imagine, she will close her eyes tightly and as the crown is placed on her head proclaiming her Regina Maria, she will open her eyes realizing that her dream has come true. A lifetime of waiting is over, and she will profess her pride in her Italian heritage, a memory that will live on forever.
Take care and stay healthy. The Grapevine is proud of Marissa. Enjoy the Italian Heritage Festival in Clarksburg this weekend, and until next week “Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine.”
