World War II Veteran Celebrates Birthday With Donation To HCGH

COLUMBIA, MD — Vivian "Millie" Bailey celebrated her 103rd birthday with a bang, having Howard County General Hospital's cafeteria named after her and late husband Bill. Howard Hospital Foundation, which provides philanthropic support to Howard County General Hospital, received a donation from Bailey, who is the longest serving member of the hospital’s board of trustees, having served 23 years before her retirement from the board in 2015.

In recognition of Bailey’s gift, Howard County General Hospital’s cafeteria will be named the Vivian C. “Millie” and William Harrison Bailey Cafeteria.

“It’s extremely important for Howard County residents to support their only community hospital,” Bailey said in a statement. “Even though I have the hospital in my will, I wanted to donate this year. The cafeteria is a place where everybody goes, and therefore, they’ll be able to see that the Baileys gave and it may inspire others to do something like that too. I never dreamed that I would be able to do anything of significance for anybody else. Today, I tell everybody, try to find something, a cause that is important to you, and support that cause. Some people think you must have a lot of money to do something, but they forget that small amounts add up to large amounts.”

The Baileys moved to Columbia in 1970 where they began volunteering. Bill Bailey served on the board of the Community Action Council and on the crime prevention advisory board of the Howard County Police Department, while Millie Bailey has supported Running Brook Elementary School and provided care packages to U.S. military members worldwide as well as philanthropically supported many other nonprofits. She served on the Maryland Health Resources Planning Commission, directed a division for the Social Security Administration and was an officer in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Bailey also served on the Howard County Police Department’s Citizens Advisory Council. The county named the Vivian C. “Millie” Bailey Neighborhood Square on Lake Kittamaqundi in her honor last year. She is an emeritus member of the Howard County General Hospital board of trustees.

“Howard County General Hospital plays a crucial role in community health, especially now, and Mrs. Bailey has been a steadfast champion of Howard County General Hospital for decades,” Jennifer Smith, vice president of Howard Hospital Foundation, said. “We’re grateful for her continued support. It makes a difference to everyone in Howard County.”