By Akoi M Baysah Jr.
Shock and sorrow swept across the United Methodist University (UMU) community on Tuesday following the sudden passing of its President, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel F. Bailey.
The United Methodist University Alumni Association (UMUAA) has joined the university and the bereaved family in mourning a man widely regarded as a steady hand and transformative leader.
According to sources within the university, Dr. Bailey was seen on campus earlier in the morning before reportedly collapsing and being rushed to the AMI Hospital in Sinkor, where he was later pronounced dead. His passing has left students, staff, and alumni reeling.
In a tribute issued late Tuesday, the UMU Alumni Association described Dr. Bailey’s death as “the end of an era defined by vision, humility, and unwavering dedication to the future of the university.”
The Association recalled one of its final public engagements with Dr. Bailey on November 22, 2025, when he stood alongside the UMUAA to break ground for a 16-classroom building in Margibi County.
That moment, the group said, now symbolizes his enduring commitment to expanding educational access and strengthening the institution’s foundation.
“That day was filled with hope and purpose,” the statement noted. “We will forever remember his warmth, his leadership, and the belief he carried in the future of UMU.”
Across the university community, tributes continued to pour in as students and faculty struggled to come to terms with the loss of a man many described as accessible, prayerful, and determined.
The Alumni Association extended its deepest condolences to the Bailey family and all those touched by his life, noting that his absence leaves “a void words can scarcely fill.”
