In Memoriam

To deceased persons who deserve recognition for their special contributions to Baltimore history

The 2023 honorees are:

Civil rights activist, educator and social worker Mamie Todd received a Master of Social Work degree in 1953 from the University of Pennsylvania. Soon after, she began a crusade to stop the exploitation and abuse of Baltimore's most vulnerable children. She ultimately led the development of the State of Maryland’s Social Services Administration’s Child Protective Services Agency. Her goals included ensuring that suspected child abusers would be investigated by qualified professionals and making sure that abused children received therapeutic treatment. Along the way, she helped inspire and train legions of future social workers, including a young social worker and future U.S. Senator, Barbara Mikulski. Todd was also a founding member of the Pierians, a Baltimore-based organization dedicated to the study, promotion and enjoyment of the arts that now has chapters in many states.

Herman Williams, Jr.

Baltimore called him “Chief.” And Herman Williams, Jr. is still best known as Baltimore City’s first African American fire chief, appointed by Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke in 1992 and retired 2001.During his tenure, the City set record lows in fire deaths, and the number of fires declined by nearly half. But citizens may best remember Chief Williams for initiating the Fire Department’s free distribution of smoke detectors. Chief Williams moved from New York City to Sandtown-Winchester as a teen, graduated from Frederick Douglass High School, and earned his associate degree in Fire Management at the Community College of Baltimore County. Before his firefighter career, Chief Williams was a bass player at Block bars and the Royal Theater -- when not enduring racist abuses as one of the first African Americans hired to drive for Baltimore Transit Company. He meanwhile helped win approval of the Fire Department’s hiring of African-American recruits. The rest is history!

Past Honorees, in alphabetical order:

Hon. Rosalie Silber Abrams (2010)

Hon. Victorine Q. Adams (2007)

Jody Albright (2017)

Margaret Phyllis DeMan Armstrong (2017)

Joseph Arnold (2007)

Rosa L. Barber (2021)

Evelyn T. Beasley (2020)

Charles Blackburn (2018)

Esther Bonnet (2018)

Hon. Clarence H. (Du) Burns (2008)

Agnes Callum (2016)