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MSBC Media PlayerMedia Center
MSBCOC | In Remembrance
Celebrating the Life of the Honorable Ruth M. Kirk
February 2, 1930 - June 17, 2011
The Honorable
Ruth Mable Simmons Kirk was born on February 2, 1930, the fifth child of Albert
E. Simmons, Sr. and Sedonia Parker Simmons. As a young child Ruth contracted a
debilitating illness which left her weak and unable to walk. She told the Lord
"If you allow me to walk, I would always help and serve the people", in which
she did. She received care, support and encouragement from her parents, their
friends Vernon and Viola Miller and her special long life childhood friend
Barbara Faulkner.
She later married her loving and devoted husband Arthur F. Kirk, Jr. from Roxboro, North Carolina. Together they loved and nurtured seven children. They were always available to nieces, nephews and any child needing support, encouragement and love. The couple recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary in their west Baltimore neighborhood.
Ruth loved to cook and bake. She did not only cook for her family. She cooked four (4) turkeys along with 10 sweet potato pies each Thanksgiving for friends and the community. She was known for her famous crab cakes and her 'mean' meat loaf. Ruth loved to entertain her community at her annual Christmas Party.
Ruth received her education in the Baltimore Public school system until the age of eight (8) when her illness no longer allowed her to attend school. She later returned as an adult and received her G.E.D. She held several jobs during her career. She started at an early age working with her mother and sister at Taylor's Restaurant in Camden Station and Bickford's Restaurant. Later in her adult life, she held jobs in areas such as: a housekeeper, in Early Childhood Education, and a Para Professional at Dunbar Senior High School until the fall of 2002.
She began her community work in the 1960's with the Community Action Agency. In the 1970's she became involved with the Greater Model Community Council, Provident Hospital Community Board of Directors, East/West Advisory Council, Baltimore Blueprint; National Citizens Participation Council Community Organization to Improve Life; Self Help Housing Board, Urban Service Commission, Urban Service Commission Council; Urban Service Center 19, Poppleton Renewal Planning Action Council; Board of Directors, Meals on Wheels, Citizen Democratic Action Agency; Committee for Cultural Arts, University of Maryland Board, Bon Secours Hospital Board and many other boards.
Ruth Kirk represented the 44th District for the House of Delegates from January 12, 1983 to January 12, 2011. She was the First African American Chairperson for the Women's Caucus. She was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from January 12, 1983 to January 12, 2011, A Member of the Constitutional and Administrative Law Committee, 1983-1990; Economic Matters Committee 1991-2011 (death care industry work group; workers' compensation subcommittee, 1995-2003; real estate and housing subcommittee 1999-2003; business regulation subcommittee 2003-2011; property and casualty insurance subcommittee 2003-2006); Tort and Insurance Reform Oversight Committee 1993; House Facilities Committee 1993-2011; Joint Committee on Federal Relations 1999-2004; Protocol Committee 2007-2011. She was a member of the Liaison Work Group, Baltimore City Delegation. A member of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland )formerly Maryland Black Caucus) 1983-2011 (member of the nominating committee 2000-2011, redistricting committee 2000-2011,; past chair, budget committee; past treasurer); Women's Legislators of Maryland 1983-2011 (president in 1994); Maryland Veterans Caucus 2006-2011. She was a member of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators; National Order of Women Legislators; Southern Legislative Conference (economic development, transportation and cultural affairs committee 2005-2011; fiscal affairs and government operations committee 2005-2011).
She was a member of the Task Force for Voter Registration 1984-986; Governor's Council on Adolescent Pregnancy 1992-2005; State Commission on Neighborhoods 1994-1996; Advisory Council on Offender Employment Coordination 2001-2004; Farmer-Mitchell Advisory Council, University of Maryland Medical System.
Ruth Kirk's biggest event was the Family Fun Festival held yearly at Franklin Square Park for the past seventeen years. Besides enjoying and loving her doll collection, she enjoyed the community garden where she planted vegetables with the summer Corp Children and the Senior Citizens. Ruth did special projects with the community for more than 37 years. Before her passing she was honored with the Baltimore's Neighborhood Mom's Award for 2011.
We take the time to pay tribute to a woman of standard, a woman of virtue, a true woman of honor. The Honorable Delegate Ruth Mable Simmons Kirk! To God Be the Glory for the Great Things He did in her life!
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