'Dottie' Baylor, 99, honored teacher

WHEN LEONA KING started her teaching career, requirements for teachers were a bit relaxed. She started teaching at the age of 18 in 1928 and was assigned to the Alexander Wilson School, in West Philadelphia.

She never left. She spent 35 years at the same school, teaching thousands of students and taking great pride in their life's achievements.

Leona, who became Leona Baylor after her marriage to Edward Baylor in 1937, was an active civic and church leader who was proud of being descended from a pre-Civil War family. She died on March 27.

She would have been 100 on April 3.

Dottie, as she was called by family and friends, was a first cousin of veteran broadcaster Malcolm Poindexter, who died March 30 at the age of 84. Both were born on April 3.

She was born in the Elmwood section of Philadelphia to the Rev. William H. and Effie Palmer King. She grew up with her older brother, the late William Harry King.

She attended Girls High and Overbrook High School and was a 1930 graduate of the old Philadelphia Normal School, which trained teachers. She later received a degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

She received Outstanding Teacher awards for her work in the classroom.

Edward Baylor, now deceased, was a member of the Olde Philadelphia Club, the nation's oldest gentlemen's club, founded in 1834, and Dottie was accepted as an associate.

"She was highly regarded as the widow of one of their own," her family said.

Dottie was active with a number of other organizations including Opera North, formerly Opera Ebony.

She also was an active supporter of WHYY, UNICEF and the African American Museum in Philadelphia. She received a number of accolades from the United Way for her participation.

She was a charter member and a leader of the Coordinating Council of Frontiers International. She was also active with her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, which awarded her its Golden Soror honor in 1995 for 50 years of service to the organization.

As president of the sorority's Omega Omega Chapter in Philadelphia, she had the honor of introducing the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at a national convention of the sorority in 1964.

"It was one of her most memorable moments," her family said.

Dottie was an active member of St. George St. Barnabas Episcopal Church at 61st Street and Hazel Avenue, West Philadelphia. She was a founding member of St. Martha's Guild, clerk of the Vestry from 1977 to 1987 and registrar for the annual Diocesan Convention.

She was always available for whatever needed doing and was a Sunday school teacher at the time of her death.

Dottie loved music and could often be overheard humming or singing a tune.

"She had a special place in her heart for children, and treated many of them as her own," her family said. "A gift never went unacknowledged.

"She wrote eloquent thank-you notes and remembered birthdays with calls and cards."

She is survived by nieces and nephews.

Services: Were April 5.