Pawhuska, Oklahoma
Creadell Haley was born on 4 July 1916 in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. In high school she became fascinated by auto mechanics, stemming from a class she had taken, and upon graduation decided on that field of study as a post-graduate. She soon found that as a young lady she would not easily be accepted as an apprentice into to field of her choice.
True Passion
Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC)
Education / Flying / Music
Baha'i Faith
Unique Status
Residence
St. Mary’s Court Apartments that is located at 725 24th Street NW Washington, DC 20037. Across from the infamous Watergate Complex.
Residence
Baha'i Prayers for Pioneers
“Thou knowest, O God, and art my witness that I have no desire in my heart save to attain Thy good pleasure, to be confirmed in servitude unto Thee, to consecrate myself in Thy service, to labor in Thy great vineyard and to sacrifice all in Thy path. Thou art the All-Knowing and the All-Seeing. I have no wish save to turn my steps, in my love for Thee, towards the mountains and the deserts to loudly proclaim the advent of Thy Kingdom, and to raise Thy call amidst all men. O God! Open Thou the way for this helpless one, grant Thou the remedy to this ailing one and bestow Thy healing upon this afflicted one. With burning heart and tearful eyes I supplicate Thee at Thy Threshold.”
“O God! I am prepared to endure any ordeal in Thy path and desire with all my heart and soul to meet any hardship.”
“O God! Protect me from tests. Thou knowest full well that I have turned away from all things and freed myself of all thoughts. I have no occupation save mention of Thee and no aspiration save serving Thee.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá
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References
[1] Report partly adapted from: Foggy Bottom News, June 2000.[2] Creadell Haley, Baha’i Pioneer to Venezuela, National Baha’i Review, No. 4, ‘Time-Clock Our Foreign Goals’, Americas, Baha’i Year 125, April 1968, p. 4.[3] Photo by Terry Randolph. Capital Yacht Club, Washington, DC, August 2000.
Additional Research Required
Additional research needs to be done in both the Washington DC Baha’i Archives and archived resources locate in The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University in order to develop a fuller history of the activities of the Baha’i Faith in the Nations Capital and of its membership.
First Meeting
Terry Randolph first met Creadell Haley at a Baha’i Fireside hosted by Hazel Neave (longtime Baha’i pioneer to Thailand) at her apartment during an early afternoon in August 2000. Those in attendance: Barbara Eaton-Bond, her husband Richard, Ouida Coley, and several other Baha’is and their guest. Both Hazel and Creadell resided at St. Mary’s Court Apartments.
Background
From Francis Coley he first learned about Creadell Haley, followed by her daughter, Quida, who explained Creadell’s accomplishments and pioneering experience. She said “Creadell would be attending a Baha’i Fireside this afternoon and if you want to meet her you could also attend. Just contact Hazel Neave because it’s being held at her apartment.” He was very much surprised to learn that Hazel Neave, a Baha’i friend, former caretaker of the Washington, DC Baha’i Center, and long time pioneer to Thailand, and whom he had not seen since visiting that country several years earlier, had returned to the United States, and once again resides in Washington, DC. He stated that he would be very happy to meet and talk with Creadell Haley.
Those attending the Fireside that afternoon included Barbara Eaton-Bond, her husband Richard, Ouida Coley, and several other Baha’is and their guests.
Lunch / Interview
The next day, he went to pickup Creadell at her apartment building. Along with his son, the three of them first stopped to take advantage of a beautiful day by walking around the grounds of the Capital Yacht Club, and where several photographs were taken. Creadell had fun playing with Na’il, then about sixteen months old, and afterward they went to the Chinese restaurant for a delicious meal, and also where the interview took place.
Creadell mentioned that much of what she had to say about her life had already been written in an article by a reporter from the Foggy Bottom News. She also mentioned that her memory was then not so clear, and how happy she was to be able to participate in local Baha’i activities.
The newspaper article mentioned above, together with information acquired during the interview, form the bases for this report.
Passing
Graveside Prayers
In Memory
Burial
Creadell Haley, Rank, Sargent, United States Army, was interred 8 November 2000 at Quantico National Memorial Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Road (Route 619) Triangle, Virginia 22172. Burial Site: Section No. 5, Grave No. 258.
Burial
Na’il Randolph
