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Hannah Randall Henry, one of society member that bears her name, and for the lives she has touched in her
Ridgely’s School teachers who taught for and as the church secretary for 36 years. service to education, community, church,
41 years, passed away on January 21, She was the first vice-president of the friends, and family.
2021. Below is an article submitted by Cooper, Sampson, Wayman, Greene Lastly, she is a lifetime citizen of the
the Ridgely Historical Society from the Area of the Women’s Missionary Society, Town of Ridgely.
150th Celebration in 2017 Board member of the Conference
about Mrs. Henry. Branch Women’s Missionary Society,
and Chairman of the Turner-Tanner
Hannah Randall Memorial Committee of the Baltimore
Conference Branch Women’s Missionary
Henry Society. Hannah Henry now holds the
Hannah Randall Henry was born on April Emeritus status of the Steward Board
8, 1913 in Odessa, DE to the late Th omas because of her long-time and dedicated

and Hannah Whittington Randall. Her service for the spiritual uplifting of the
father was a Methodist minister, her pastor, church, offi cers, and members.
mother a housewife. She was the fifth Her community involvements included

child of five girls and four boys. Hannah member of Board of Directors of Mental
was married to the late Colbert Henry. Health, American Cancer Society, and

They helped raise two nieces, Constance Caroline County Library. She was part
Wilkerson of Goldsboro and Betty Coles of membership in the Negro Business
of Ridgely. They also raised two nephews, and Professional Women’s Club, NAACP,

George Randall of Baltimore, and Marvin Caroline County Retired Teachers
Henry of Philadelphia. Association, and the Maryland Retired
Hannah’s elementary schooling took Teachers’ Association. Hannah received
place in Olivet Hill, Galena, and Kent the Outstanding Elementary Teacher
County, MD. She graduated from the Award in 1974. She is listed in the
Garnet High School in Chestertown. In 1974 Edition of Outstanding Teachers
1930, she attended Bowie Norman School, of America Annual. In 1978, she was
graduating in 1932 with a teaching given the Ridgely Little League Award
certificate. After attending summer for Contributions to Youth of Ridgely,
school and taking management extension Honor Day. She received the Sojourner
courses, she received her Bachelor of Truth Award from the Car-Ken-Tal-Que-
Science Degree in Elementary Education Dor Negro Business and Professional
from Morgan State College in 1952. Women’s Club in 1986. In 1989, she
received the Charity Outreach Club
Most of Hannah’s teaching was done in Award in appreciation for social concern.
Caroline County beginning in 1934 in

Th e first Minority Scholarship Fund for
a one-room school in Ninetown. The
Caroline County was named in her honor Brick placed in Railroad Memorial
following year she was transferred to
by the Chesapeake College Minority Task Park for Hannah Henry’s 100th
Federalsburg, where she taught in the
Force Committee. birthday.
primary grades for four years. She was
then transferred to Ridgely Elementary The Trinity African
School in the Trinity subdivision. When Methodist Episcopal
the schools were integrated, she was Ch u r c h F a m i l y
the first black teacher assigned to the in Ridgely hosted
previously all white Ridgely Elementary her 100th birthday
School where she taught until she retired celebration on April
in 1975. She had given a total of 41 years 6, 2013. Ha nnah
of dedicated service to the Caroline Henry is the mother
County School System. of the church and
continually supports
While Hannah was committed to
her ch ur ch w i t h
her career, she never lost sight of her
wisdom, stewardship,
Christian training. She has been an ardent
and prayers. She is now
worker at Trinity African Methodist
104 years young and
Episcopal Church in Ridgely. She served is a blessing to all. She
as a steward, choir member, Sunday
continues to write her Sign in the Town of Ridgely on the corner of the church
school teacher, lay member, missionary
legacy by her witness property bestowing Hannah Henry’s honor.
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