2008 MABEL CLAIRE MADDREY AWARD WINNER – MARY ALICE SIMMONS
The Mabel Claire Maddrey Award for Distinguished Service was established in 1997 by Democratic Women of Wake County to honor club members who have consistently provided outstanding service to the club and the Democratic Party over the years. Named in honor of Mabel Claire Maddrey, former DWWC President and founder of the JJ Breakfast, the award recognizes members who are routinely supportive without expectation of recognition or reward.
The 2008 Mabel Claire Maddrey Award was presented on June 12, 2008 to Mary Alice Simmons at an evening meeting of DWWC. Mary Alice has been a strong supporter of the Democratic Party for more than 50 years and has been consistent with award criteria.
She has served for years on the Board of Democratic Women of Wake County in several different positions including:
• assistant treasurer for several terms
• assistant to the Chair for Volunteers
• member of the Nominating Committee
• member of JJ Breakfast Committees including ticket sales, registration and publicity
• liaison for the Wake County Democratic Party
• delegate to state and national Democratic Women conventions
Mary Alice has also been active in the Wake County Democratic Party as president of the Senior Democrats and as a dedicated precinct chair for years.
In addition to her service to the Democratic Party on all levels, she volunteered with the guardian ad litum program and currently is a member of the Department of Health and Human Services Community Advisory Committee on Nursing Homes. Her professional life was also characterized by service to the public. She worked with the Department of Administration in the Employee Suggestion Unit helping to save state monies, with Terry Sanford’s U.S. Senate Office in Raleigh helping constituents with problems and with the State Bar Association as assistant to the Executive Director.
Always enthusiastic and involved, she has plenty of ideas, has supported Democratic candidates through the years with time, energy and money and is devoted to the Democratic Party – a true “Yellow Dog Democrat.” She follows in the footsteps of her mother, the late Mary Alice Simmons, Sr., who received this same award in 2002.
