Concert Aims To Raise Money Through Music For Hernando High School Alum

Stephanie Barnett-Sager prays every day for the family of her fellow Hernando High alumnus.

But while Barnett-Sager is a firm believer in the power of prayer, she still felt compelled to take action to help Jay Bailey and his family.

"I wanted to do something more than that, and I all I knew was how to sing, so I'm going to do that," Barnett-Sager said.

So Barnett-Sager, who stood out in Hernando High's Class of 1992 for her roles in school productions and went on to become a professional vocalist, came up with the idea for "The Bailey Benefit: A Musical Celebration of Friendship."

The concert slated for this Sunday will feature a host of local performers, including others whose friendships with Bailey - a varsity wrestler and winner of the Mr. Hernando High title during his senior year - go back to school days. The goal is to raise money to help Bailey as his wife Kathy, who undergoes treatment for an aggressive form of cancer.

The concert will begin 2 p.m. at Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 200 Mt. Fair Ave. in Brooksville. Tickets are $15 at the door.

Barnett-Sager, a soprano with a degree from the Manhattan School of Music who recently sang an aria from "Madame Butterfly" with the Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra, will perform several numbers. Among them is a tune called "The Girl in 14G" - one song that will showcase her talents in the genres of jazz, opera and musical theater.

Also on the bill is Jamie Cuffe Morton, an alto and a member of the Class of '92 whose friendship with Bailey stretches back to kindergarten. Morton shared a stage with Barnett-Sager for several school productions, including "Bye, Bye Birdie." On Sunday, Morton will sing "Over the Rainbow" and "When You Wish Upon a Star."

Jason Yungmann, the '92 alumnus who played Birdie alongside Barnett-Sager and Cuffe Morton, also will sing. Yungmann's wife Tanya will perform on the cello.

Kelley Looper, a Brooksville gospel singer, and pianist Shanley Carlton also will perform.

"This is the kind of benefit where your influence is going to directly affect someone's life," Barnett-Sager said.

Jay Bailey was born in Brooksville. His parents, Tony and Ann, still live here. Bailey headed north where he met Kathy, a Georgia girl. The couple lives in Dublin, about 50 miles east of Macon, with daughters Tinsley, 5, and Jaycie, 4.

Last year, Kathy was diagnosed with adrenal cortical carcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. The cancer spread to her liver and lymph nodes, and several tumors have sprouted, including one on her aorta.

"At one time she was waiting to die it was so bad," Jay said Thursday.

Kathy is undergoing an experimental treatment at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md., where doctors are most intent on shrinking the tumor on her heart, Jay said. That hasn't happened yet, but Kathy has gained weight and is in much better spirits, he said.

However, the strain on the family's finances has added to the burden. Kathy, a nurse, had been a stay-at-home mom since her first daughter was born but planned to go back to work this year. Then came the diagnosis.

Jay is an exercise therapist, and his insurance is covering Kathy's treatment. But the couple is traveling back and forth to Maryland every three weeks. Jay's income has been cut by 25 percent, and the cost of the plane fares are adding up.

When he found out that his former classmates were organizing a benefit concert, he was struck with a feeling of "disbelief."

"The energy they're putting into this and they haven't seen me in forever ... that's really good friends," he said. "To be on the receiving end of it is a tremendous feeling, to say the least."

If you go:

What: Benefit concert for family of Jay Bailey, a member of Hernando High School's class of 1992.

When: 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26.

Where: Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 200 Mt. Fair Ave., Brooksville.

Admission: $15 at the door.