Office of Mayor Gavin Buckley
PRESS STATEMENT
City of Annapolis
160 Duke of Gloucester Street
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Mitchelle Stephenson, 410-972-7724 or mwstephenson@annapolis.gov
Statement on the Passing of Ora Brown Snowden
Annapolis, MD (May 27, 2020) – I was saddened to hear of the passing of longtime Annapolis resident Ora Brown Snowden, who had reached the age of 104.
Born to John Brown and Daisy Pindell in 1916, Mrs. Snowden lived through more than a hundred years of incredible change in America. She was born at a time when women didn’t have the right to vote. She was born before Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born. She lived through two World Wars, the Civil Rights Movement and the political assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Dr. King, Malcolm X and others. She lived to see the first African American man elected as President of the United States.
She also lived through incredible change in Annapolis, watching the whites-only hospital admit all women to safely give birth to their babies, seeing sit-ins at lunch counters turn into an integrated hospitality industry, but also seeing the results of “urban renewal” and attendant societal upheaval.
She had a full family life, including raising her children with husband William Snowden. She saw grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren come into this world.
To Carl Snowden, civil rights activist and convener of the Caucus of African American leaders, she was mom. I know that she was in the hospital last week, a situation made more difficult because family could not be by her side. I am so sad for all of the families who are not able to ease the burden of their loved ones as they transition.
I lost my own mum earlier this year and know all-too-well that life isn’t ever the same once both of your parents are no longer able to be a part of your life.
To the Snowden family, Julie and I extend our deepest sympathies. On behalf of City staff and residents, we are mourning this loss with you.
- Mayor Gavin Buckley