Obituary of Oneita Perry

Oneita Perry, led housing agency When a former executive director of the Covington Housing Authority ruined its relationship with a major source of funds, his assistant, Oneita Perry, stepped up to turn the agency around and continued to lead it for 22 years, until her retirement for health reasons in August 1999. Mrs. Perry, who died Sunday at 62, took over the authority during a very difficult time, former Covington Mayor Bernie Moorman said. Soon after he became mayor in 1980, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development sent the city a letter saying the executive director had to go or it would cut off funding. It was obvious Mrs. Perry, as that man's assistant, was the right person for the job, Moorman said. She proved very committed to the authority's mission and showed a great ability to handle both politicians and tenants. "Giving credibility to the agency was a very big task and a very important one, and she succeeded in doing that." When Mrs. Perry retired, she listed the cleanup of the City Heights public housing complex among her accomplishments. "When I first began, the ground at City Heights was like a dust bowl." During her tenure, a guard booth was put up at the entrance to the 365-unit complex. City police credited it with helping reduce drug trafficking and violent crime. Mrs. Perry had to deal with her share of controversy, Moorman said. For example, in 1996 at the Golden Tower high-rise, an elderly man was murdered and six months later an elderly woman fell to her death. "The controversy was there, but she knew how to handle it." Daughter-in-law Jamie Bailey of Fort Mitchell, said Mrs. Perry enjoyed her job and made many friends. "She loved working with politicians." When she wasn't working, she loved playing games, even more so if she won. She enjoyed euchre, Pollyanna - basically any game she could convince others to play with her, Bailey said. "It just didn't matter. She would play anything." Her top priority was her family. Her swimming pool often served as the stage for gatherings, especially during her annual luau, Bailey said. "She loved when her family came over to swim." Mrs. Perry also enjoyed gardening, reading and shopping. Mrs. Perry was a one-term president of the Kentucky Housing Authority and member of the Florence United Methodist Church. Survivors include her husband, Ronald, of Florence; two sons, Brian Bailey of Fort Mitchell and Carl Bailey of Burlington; three stepsons, Rick Perry of Katy, Texas, David Perry of Wiley, Texas, and Randall Perry of Independence; one step-daughter, Rhonda Strinko of Independence; two sisters, Sharon Ferguson and Laura Holland, both of Lexington; a brother, Stan Roberts of Clinton, N.C.; father and stepmother, Adrian and Laura Roberts of Lexington; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Home, Florence, with the funeral service immediately following. Northern Kentucky Cremation Services, Walton, is handling the cremation. Memorials may be sent to Florence United Methodist Church, 8585 Old Toll Road, Florence, Ky. 41042.