Del. Hattie Harrison dies at 84

Hattie N. Harrison has been a member of the Maryland General Assembly since 1973, and has served as the chairperson for the Rules and Executive Nominations Committee. She represented the east side of Baltimore City, District 45. 

 

Delegate Harrison was also the first African-American woman to chair a committee. She is also the longest serving member of the House of Delegates. 

 

Harrison was born in Lancaster, South Carolina and attended both Charlotte, North Carolina and Baltimore City public schools. 

 

Delegate Harrison is a widow, but is survived by her two children, Robert "Skip" and Philip, her daughter-in-law, Lula, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. 

 

Hattie Harrison died just days before her 85 birthday.

 

“Delegate Harrison was a great influence on everyone she touched,” said Speaker Michael E. Busch. “She took enormous pride in public service and while someone will ultimately take her seat, no one will ever be able to take her place in the House.”

 

There is no word on what her cause of death was.