Revitalizing Respite!
Honorary Chair: Gloria Lawlah

Gloria G. Lawlah, former State Senator of Maryland, continues to serve the State of Maryland after 20 years of dedicated service in Annapolis. A native of Newberry, South Carolina, Secretary Lawlah was appointed Secretary for the Maryland Department of Aging in February of 2007 by Governor Martin O’Malley. A graduate of Hampton University and Trinity College, her career in public service started with teaching in the D.C. Public Schools for 30 years where she rose to the rank of Administrator with the D.C. Public Schools Central Office.

Secretary Lawlah served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from January 1987 until January 1991, representing District 26 in Prince George’s County. She was elected State Senator in November of 1990 and during her tenure she served as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on the Management of Public Funds, Chair of the Prince George’s County Delegation, Chair of the Health and Human Services Subcommittee and the Health, Education and Human Resources Subcommittee, a member of the Budget and Taxation, Capital Budget and Joint Audit Committee, and was appointed to the Maryland Commission on Aging in 2002. Secretary Lawlah was a vocal advocate for the development of the National Harbor that borders Maryland and Virginia. In addition to serving in the Maryland Legislature, Secretary Lawlah was the Federal Liaison for the Office of External Relations at Bowie State University from 1995 to 2007.

Her legislative prowess and leadership are legendary. From public safety to health and education; Secretary Lawlah has left her mark on some of the most far reaching legislation that the State of Maryland has seen in its long history. College financing, environmental affairs, redistricting, emergency medical response, legislative prayer and transportation are just a few of the issues she has tackled as a public servant as well as serving with distinction in the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland as Vice Chair, President of the Women Legislators of Maryland, Secretary and Treasurer of the Women Legislators of Maryland Foundation, Inc., the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Governor’s Council on Homelessness, the Maryland Commission on Suicide Prevention, the Statewide Empowerment Zones for Seniors Commission where she served as chairperson, the Black Democratic Council, the Democratic State Central Committee and a delegate to the Democratic Party’s National Convention in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004.

A recipient of many awards and honors, Secretary Lawlah was inducted into the Prince George’s County Women’s Hall of Fame 1991. Her awards include the Edgemeade Honor for Outstanding Service to Maryland Youth and Families, the Citizen of the Year Award from Prince George’s County Board of Trade, the Champion against Oral Cancer from the University of Maryland Medical System, the Humanitarian Award from the University of Maryland Dental School, the Award of Excellence from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Legislator of the Year from the Health Facilities Association of Maryland, the Leadership and Advocacy Award from the American Institute for Urban Psychological Studies, the Titanium Award for Leadership in the field of Aging from Grayshore and MAC, Inc., and she was named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women by the Daily Record. Currently she is serving as a Board Member of the National Association of States United for Aging and Disabilities.