Samaria Bailey (born June 29, 1947) in Macon

Macon, Georgia

Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...

, Georgia

Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...

 was an instrumental figure in the civil rights movement. She was one of the first American females of African descent to be accepted into Mercer University

Mercer University

Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...

 and the first American female of African descent to integrate A. L. Miller Senior High School

Central High School (Macon, Georgia)

Central High School, also known as Central-Macon, Central-Bibb, and Central Fine Arts and International Baccalaureate Magnet High School is a high school in Macon, Georgia, USA, serving students in grades 9-12...

, an all white female school located in Macon, in 1964. Samaria graduated from Miller H.S. with honors. Her story was featured in the best selling novel, Stem of Jesse: The Costs of Community at a 1960s Southern School by Will D. Campbell

Will D. Campbell

Will Davis Campbell is a Baptist minister, activist, author, and lecturer. Throughout his life, he has been a notable white supporter of civil rights in the Southern United States...

and stage play, "Combustible/Burn", written by Andrew Silver.

Bailey sought him out,