Civic & Community

Anne L. Gormer

Anne Gormer began her banking career in Allegany County in 1943 when she was first employed by Liberty Trust. She held a series of positions over the years rising to senior vice president in 1980, and eventually president of the Liberty Bank of Maryland in 1992. An earlier 1986 merger with WM Bancorp resulted in her being named a senior vice-president and director of the holding company.

Mary Elizabeth Garrett was America’s wealthiest female philanthropist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She had a tendency toward “social activism” and continued her father’s financial support of Johns Hopkins University. She provided critical financial backing to start its School of Medicine, but with a stipulation that female students be admitted on the same terms as men, thus initiating Johns Hopkins as the first co-educational university teaching center for women physicians.

Bernice Friedland, Businesswoman

On April 5, 2017 Bernice Friedland received special recognition and was honored at the Sixth Annual Allegany County Women’s History celebration conducted at Allegany College of Maryland.

Bernice Friedland is a former high school teacher and retired Cumberland small business owner ("Tots to Teens" along with her late husband Arthur Friedland.)

Romaine Franklin, 1917 - 2016

Born in Cumberland in 1917, Romaine Franklin is one of two daughters born to the late Charles and Gettie Gilmore Denson. Her mother was a native of Piedmont, West Virginia. Romaine is a 1933 graduate of Frederick Street School, later known as Carver High School. In a 2001 newspaper article she notes that despite living near the old Greene Street Junior High School, segregation required her to walk across town.

Joy W. Douglas, Businesswoman and Civic Leader


The following is excerpted from an obituary appearing on the Scarpelli Funeral Home of Cumberland, Maryland website, October 26, 2019. The excerpt focuses upon the professional and community contributions of Joy W. Douglas (1927-2019).

”Born in Cumberland, Joy Douglas was the daughter of the late Alvin H. and Elizabeth Hauger Wilson. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, W. Bruce Douglas; their infant daughter, Margaret Jean; and her brother, Alvin L. Wilson.

Cumberland Civic Club Works For City's Benefit

The women of Cumberland were ever interested in the business and cultural growth of the city, working individually and through church and fraternal organizations for the various projects, but the need of an organization devoted to civic betterment was felt by many and in May of 1909 the Cumberland Civic Club was organized.

Cumberland Rotary Club honors female members
Salute to Women event coincides with 25th anniversary of open membership requirement

Angie Brant
Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND — Past and present female members of the Cumberland Rotary were honored Tuesday for their efforts in the humanitarian organization.

Led by Shirley McIntosh, assistant district governor, the Salute to Women in Rotary recognized the important impact women have had in the local club and in Rotary organizations throughout the world.

County Federation of Women's
Clubs Doing Effective Work

The need of organized effort among club women bad been keenly felt and the knowledge that federated efforts bring about greater achievements the clubs of the county gathered together to launch a county federation, the first meeting being in September 1913, another in October of the same year, with Mrs. B. R. Henderson as head, the group being reorganised in January of 1915 with Miss Anne M. Sloan of Lonaconing as president and has since then flourished successfully.

The Civic Club of Cumberland was established in 1909 by seventeen women whose purpose was to work for the city’s improvement. In 1913 several smaller clubs merged to form the Allegany County Federation of Women’s Clubs, and in 1917 a local chapter of the National Women’s Suffrage Association was established.

Sarah W. Bromery, 1880 - 1980

The Metropolitan A.M.E. Church was first organized and a board of trustees elected in 1837. Sarah W. Bromery, a prominent leader in the African-American community, served in 1937 as Chairwoman of the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church in Cumberland.