Delegate Hattie N. Harrison

God needed His servant and called her to this life on February 11, 1928. Hattie NEAL Harrison (nee Stewart) was born to Laura Neal Cameron and Albert Stewart in Lancaster, S.C. She met her future husband, Robert L. Harrison,Sr. in Charlotte N.C. They were married the summer of 1943 and celebrated fifty-four years of marriage before God called her husband home. Out of their union, they had two sons, Robert L. “Skip” Harrison, Jr. and Philip A. Harrison. Hattie loved cooking and watched the Food Network daily. When in Annapolis for the General Sessions, her hotel specially ordered the Food Network Channel for her viewing pleasure. Hattie began her education in Charlotte N.C. and continued in the Baltimore City Public School System. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Antioch College. In 2008, she was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters — an Honorary Doctorate from Sojourner Douglass College. Dr. Harrison served as a school teacher and was a humble lifelong community servant and activist. As a member of the United House of Prayer For All People, Hattie’s service was unparalleled. She was a member of the House of Prayer from an early age.She started her House of Prayer membership in Charlotte, N.C. and continued her faithful membership at Sweet East until her home-going. She received the Holy Ghost at an early age. She was an avid Sunday School member, and she steadfastly attended church services and activities that were important to her faith and love of God. Hattie was a G-Class worker and received numerous G-Class awards. Hattie began her career as a community activist and advocate in the 1950s and served as a member of the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School PTA. Her community activism lit her passion for service and her transition into politics began not long after. Her early political career began in the 1960’s working with the former Baltimore City Mayor Clarence “Du” Burns. She was a foundingmember of the East Baltimore Democratic Organization. Hattie became Delegate Hattie N. Harrison on August 2, 1973. She was the Maryland State Representative for the 45th Legislative District. She was the longest serving Maryland state legislator, having served forty years, and was the longest serving African American female legislator in the country. Her standard remained the same over the course of her legendary career: “I am here for my people. They are my conscience. I am responsible to them and their lives must be improved by my actions.” Her signature saying when answering her phone was, “How can I help you?” A key piece of legislation personally introduced by Delegate Harrison thatdirectly affected her district was the establishment of CURE (heart, body, souland the clergy) for the renewal of East Baltimore’s initiative on North Broadway.It was directly through her actions that Harbor Bank, the only African American bank in Baltimore City, received their banking charter. There are countless other examples that reflect her dedication and tenacity for equality for all, especially the underrepresented. Her given nickname was “the Fairy Godmother” because it was known she would work across the aisle and she could get things done. Delegate Harrison’s focus and passion was on renewal strategies and overallrevitalization of the East Baltimore community. Delegate Harrison sponsored housing legislation that was adopted by the House of Delegates for individuals receiving assistance. She was later joined by Appropriations Committee Chair Pete Rawlings (now deceased) in the expansion of a long-term loan for the Guaranty Fund to support the small business community. Delegate Harrison’s tenure as a State Legislator and Member of the House of Delegates since August 2, 1973 spans the following: 1973 Member, Unemployment Insurance Subcommittee, Economic Development Committee,Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland and Women Legislators of Maryland,1973-1974 Member, Maryland Commission on the Status of Women, 1976-1979Member, Joint Legislative Committee on Metropolitan Mass Transit, 1976-1980 Member, Maryland Commission for Women and Commission to Study Domestic Relations Laws, 1979-1980 Member, Task Force on Permits Simplification; 1980-1982 Member, Task Force on Youth Employment, 1979-2005 Member, Legislative Policy Committee; 1980-2007 Member, Protocol Committee, 1991-1992 Member, Joint Subcommittee on Unemployment Insurance Taxation and Charging; 1995 Member Banking, Economic Development, Science & Technology Subcommittee, 1996-1997 Member Special Joint Committee on Competitive Taxation and Economic Development, 1996 Member, Task Force Examine the State’s Cemetery and Funeral Industry, 1996, 2002 Member Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 2000 Chair Nominating Committee for the Economic Development Committee and Historian in 2007. Dr. Harrison had been a consultant to the Mott Foundation in Flint, Michigan and the International Community Education Association in Melbourne, Australia. Her community memberships included: President, Maryland Association for Community Education, Democratic State Central Committee for Baltimore City (1970-1974), Eastside Democratic Organization, Maryland Association of Mental Health, Citizens for Fair Housing, League of Woman Voters, NAACP, YWCA, East Baltimore Women’s League, National Laboratory for the Advancement of Education. In 1992, Delegate Harrison was appointed by then Governor William Donald Schaefer as the founding Chair, Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition (HEBCAC). She served in this capacity until she was called home. Delegate Harrison has received numerous service awards that included Casper R. Taylor, Jr. Founder’s Award and the House of Delegates Award in 2005. It was however her membership in the Order of Women Legislators, forty years ago, that sparked her love and collection of Owls. God needed His servant and called her home to her reward on January 28, 2013. She leaves to celebrate her life, her sister, Luvenia Cameron; her two sons, Robert L. “Skip” Harrison Jr. and Philip A. Harrison (Lula Mae); niece, Devoark Tucker; grandchildren, Dr. Carol A. Sumner (Samuel K.), Tanya L. Harrison, Philip A. Harrison, II (Rehanna); great-grandchilden, Dana Brown, Samuel A.Sumner, Morgan C. Sumner and Brandon Christopher Lamont Sumner; greatgreat grandchildren, Kaia Harrison, India Harrison and Nadia Harrison; greatnephew, James Tucker (Cheryl); and a host of family and friends.

Tributes

Delegate Hattie N. Harrison

February 11, 1928 - January 28, 2013