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Adapted from the Delaware State News
Dover, DE
Dr. Ruth Mitchell Laws, of Dover, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010.
She was the seventh of eight children born to the late Rev. Charles S. and Clare Mitchell, of Gatesville, N.C., on July 25, 1912.
A pioneer and a legend, Dr. Laws was far ahead of her time. As such, she accomplished a number of “firsts” during her lifetime.
She was the first female in the country to earn a doctorate in Administration and Supervision. She was also the first minority professional to gain employment at the former Delaware Department of Public Instruction (now Department of Education). Dr. Laws was the first inductee the fi rst year of the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame. In 1986, she was the fi rst minority female to be inducted as DE Mother of the Year.
Dr. Laws has held a host of professional positions including teacher of Home Economics, Head of the Home Economics Department at DE State College (now University), Asst State Supervisor of Home Economics, State Supervisor of Home Economics, State Supervisor of Research and Planning in Vocational Education, and State Director of Adult & Continuing Education. She directed the student organization of New Homemakers of America. Her last position was Vice President for Research & Development at Delaware Technical & Community College.
During her 43 year career, Dr. Laws secured the first federal funds for Head Start and Migrant Education programs in the State of Delaware. She also conducted research leading to enabling legislation and funding for creation of Delaware Technical & Community College. In recognition of her work with Head Start, Lady Byrd Johnson invited her to the White House.
Dr. Laws has been recognized by a number of former Delaware governors along with the Delaware Bar Association for her work in government and civic concerns. For more than eighteen years she served as Secretary for the Delaware division, US Commission on Civil Rights. Over the years, she was appointed to several state commissions including the Commission on Children and Youth and the Commission on Aging. Substantial involvement with church and church related organizations included most committees and boards of the Peninsula Conference of the United Methodist Church, local and national Church Women United, Delmarva Ecumenical Agency, United Methodist Women, the Central Delaware and national YMCA, and local church committees at Whatcoat United Methodist Church of Dover.
She was a member of a host of social, civic, and professional organizations - Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The Links, Inc., Phi Delta Kappa National Honor Fraternity in Education, American Mothers, NAACP, AAUW, League of Women Voters, the Alphabettes, Dover Century Club, and a host of honor societies.
In addition her parents, Rev. and Mrs. C. S. Mitchell, Dr. Laws was predeceased by her husband of sixty one years, William J. Laws. She was also preceded in death by her siblings, Ralph Mitchell, Maude Jeffers, Shelly Mitchell, Chauncey Mitchell, Helen Brown, Howard Mitchell, and Beth Wallace.
She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Cherritta L. Matthews of Dover; a grandson, William E. Matthews of Newark; a cousin, Clarence Curry of Hampton, Va.; nieces, Sheila Holmes, Fleur Mitchell and Carmen Howes of Los Angeles, Calif., June Robinson of Ellicott City, Md., Antonia Moore and Jacquelyn Berry, both of Charlotte, N.C., Gloria Nowlin of Crete, Ill., Edith Tucci of Chevy Chase, Md., and Gwen Hammond of Concord; nephews, Howard Mitchell of Bristow, Okla., Douglas and Bill Wallace, both of Charlotte, N.C., Hugh Waters of Cheswold, and a number of grand nephews and nieces.
A public viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 21, at the Whatcoat United Methodist Church, 341 Saulsbury Road, Dover.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 22, at the Whatcoat United Methodist Church, 341 Saulsbury Road, Dover, where friends may also call two hours prior to the services. Interment will be at Sharon Hills Memorial Park in Dover, DE.
In lieu of fl owers, contributions can be made to The William J. and Ruth M. Laws Foundation, 844 Forest Street, Dover, DE 19904 in c/o Dr. Cherritta L. Matthews.
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