Remaining resilient through the unthinkable - September 19

Deena Burnett Bailey is the widow of Tom Burnett, a passenger on United Airlines flight 93 on September 11, 2001.

Burnett Bailey has been a well-known voice for the victim’s families of September 11. She successfully spearheaded an effort to have the Flight 93 cockpit voice recorder released in April 2002. She took on the Bin Laden family in an unprecedented lawsuit to freeze assets and bankrupt more than 150 terrorist organizations around the world.  Twice she travelled to Germany where she provided face to face testimony against Al Qaeda members, helping to bring about their conviction.

Burnett Bailey has represented 911 families at the White House, Pentagon and the U.S. Congress. She has appeared on all major television networks, thousands of newspapers and magazines globally, including features in People magazine and Reader’s Digest.  She has been interviewed by national figures such as Barbara Walters, Peter Jennings, Oprah Winfrey, Matt Lowery, and Diane Sawyer.  She has participated in the making of 23 documentaries and 1 major motion film discussing and re-enacting September 11th .

Burnett Bailey’s book, “Living Life Beyond Ourselves: Fighting Back”, inspired the movie “Portrait of Courage: The Untold Story of Flight 93.”

Speaking on tour with the Young America’s Foundation, Burnett Bailey became one of the most sought after speakers in the country. She participated regularly in lecture series for the University of Minnesota, George Washington University, Fulbright University, Pepperdine University and the Ronald Reagan Library.

In addition to volunteering in her church and community, Burnett Bailey has served on the boards of more than 20 non-profit organizations. She is the co-founder of a teen volunteer organization: the 20th Century Club’s Angels of Hope.

Burnett Bailey graduated from Northeast Louisiana University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. She owns her own business as a Rodan and Fields independent consultant. She resides in Edgemont, Arkansas with her husband Rodney Bailey. Her favorite pastime is traveling to see her three daughters, Halley, Madison, Anna Clare and Rodney’s son, Tanner.