Member of House of Delegates August 2, 1973 to January 28, 2013. Longest-serving member of House of Delegates. Member, Economic Matters Committee, 1973-2013 (unemployment insurance subcommittee, 1995-2013; banking, economic development, science & technology subcommittee, 2003-10; alcoholic beverages subcommittee, 2011-13; former chair, deathcare industry work group); Joint Legislative Committee on Metropolitan Mass Transit, 1976-79; Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 1979-2013 (chair, 1979-2012, first African-American woman to chair a legislative committee). Member, Legislative Policy Committee, 1979-2005; Protocol Committee, 1980-2007; Joint Subcommittee on Unemployment Insurance Taxation and Charging, 1991-92; Special Joint Committee on Competitive Taxation and Economic Development, 1996-97; Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 1996, 2002. Member, Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland (formerly Maryland Legislative Black Caucus), 1973-2013 (economic development committee, 2000-13; chair, nominating committee, 2000-13; historian, 2007-08); Women's Legislators of Maryland, 1973-2013.
Born in Lancaster, South Carolina, February 11, 1928. Attended Charlotte, North Carolina and Baltimore City public schools. Graduate of Antioch College. School teacher. Consultant to Mott Foundation, Flint, Michigan; International Community Education Association, Melbourne, Australia. President, Maryland Association for Community Education. Appointed to National Community Education Advisory Council. Member, Democratic State Central Committee, Baltimore City, 1970-74. Member, Eastside Democratic Organization. Member, Maryland Association for Mental Health; Citizens for Fair Housing; League of Women Voters; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA); East Baltimore Women's League; National Laboratory for the Advancement of Education. President, and Chair, Board of Directors, Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition, Inc., 1992-2013. Recipient of numerous service awards. Casper R. Taylor, Jr. Founder's Award, House of Delegates, 2005. Member, United House of Prayer for All People. Widow; two children, three grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren. Died in Baltimore, Maryland, January 28, 2013.
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