Royana Redon

Royana B. Redon NORFOLK - Royana Bailey Redon, 86, died Oct. 21, 2008, at her home in Norfolk. She was born in Salina, Kan., the daughter of the late Roy Freeman Bailey, a newspaper editor and publisher, and Hattie Madden Bailey. She was the widow of Capt. Alexander Louis Redon, U.S. Navy. She was predeceased by her sister, Jean Bailey Yeager. A lifelong historian, she began her writing career with a state award-winning column for the Salina High School newspaper on the careers and accomplishments of previous graduates. She attended Marymount College in Salina and the Washington, D.C., School of Creative Writing run by Robert Frost's daughter, Lesley. Mrs. Redon devoted much of her adult life as biographer of 19th Century American Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur. At her death, she had nearly completed her biography of Decatur. While researching Decatur's life, she published journal articles about him and his wife, Norfolk native Susan Wheeler Decatur, for the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Naval Institute Proceedings. Mrs. Redon was past president of the Great Bridge Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, past president of St. Mary's Infant Home Auxiliary in Norfolk and a member of the Navy League. For the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, she created a visual presentation on the city that was developed into the "Norfolk Tour." She also was a member of the Norfolk Yacht and Country Club, the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, the Naval Institute and the National Trust. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Jean Redon Levin and her son-in-law G. John Levin Jr. of Roanoke; her granddaughter, Alexandra Redon Levin of Jersey City, N.J.; and her friend and aide, Kameelah Rashada of Norfolk. A graveside funeral will be held at 3 p.m. today in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Rev. Canon Irwin M. Lewis Jr. The family will greet friends immediately after the service at Algonquin House, Norfolk. Arrangements for the funeral are provided by H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, Norfolk. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.HDOliver.com.