Delaware Tech honors Sen. Margaret Rose Henry

In observance of Women’s History Month, Delaware Technical Community College’s Stanton and Wilmington campuses honored former Delaware Sen. Margaret Rose Henry for her commitment to the state of Delaware, and her accomplishments and public service over her decades-long career.

As a tribute, a video was created to honor Henry with remarks from Delaware Tech President Dr. Mark T. Brainard, Gov. John C. Carney, and an introduction from Tynetta Brown, CEO of Philanthropy Delaware. Henry also provided remarks and advice for others. To view the video, go to vimeo.com and search MRHenry.

Henry was also presented with tributes from the Delaware House of Representatives, the New Castle County Executive Office, and the Mayor’s Office in recognition of the honor and her accomplishments.

Sen. Margaret Rose Henry is known for her extraordinary commitment to public service with an emphasis on working to improve the lives of women, children, families and the elderly. She was born June 20, 1944 in Rayne, La., and raised in Houston, Texas. Her father was a longshoreman while her mother worked in a domestic capacity. Growing up in such a quintessential working family, Henry realized the importance of education early on in life. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and sociology at Texas Southern University, becoming the first in her family to graduate from college. She went on to earn her master of arts degree in community development and leadership from Springfield College. Henry also received an honorary doctorate from Delaware State University in December 2017.

Henry has called Delaware home since 1970. After going through a divorce, she raised her two sons, John and Marcus, as a single working mother. Both sons went on to graduate from college, and find successful employment and good marriages. Henry is also the proud grandmother of three – Myles, Gabriella, and Alex – all of whom affectionately call her “Mimi.”

Henry was the first African-American woman to serve in the Delaware Senate, and she was one of only four women serving in the chamber after her 1994 election. She served as majority leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus and represented the 2nd Senatorial District.

Prior to her election, Henry spent her professional career working in the nonprofit sector. She served in management roles with groups including Delaware Guidance Services, Girls Inc., Ingleside Homes, YWCA, and the United Way of Delaware. This diverse background in public service gave her an intimate understanding of the needs of the communities she served. Henry’s focus as a legislator was always on improving the lives of working families, children, women and seniors.

Henry worked diligently on legislation that would have a positive impact on her district and the state as a whole. She sponsored or co-sponsored legislation restricting gun access for convicted domestic abusers, requiring mandatory reporting for lost or stolen firearms, levying stricter penalties for witness intimidation, creating Delaware’s medical marijuana program, prohibiting discrimination along lines of sexual orientation and gender identity, and reforming child support laws. She studied education reform in the City of Wilmington, broadened access to affordable housing, sponsored and implemented a clean-needle exchange program, worked to help increase the minimum wage and help close the gender pay gap, protected victims of child abuse, sponsored common-sense criminal justice reforms and anti-bullying measures, and worked to expand the Port of Wilmington. She championed legislation in the areas of education, autism, health, housing, crime, gun control, mental health, and services for seniors.

During her long tenure in public service,  Henry has earned recognition from many organizations. She served as majority whip and then majority leader for her caucus, and she has also served on the board of trustees for the Medical Center of Delaware, the National Society of Fundraising Executives, and Wesley College. She spent time as a board member of the Ministry of Caring and the Brandywine Professional Association, and chaired the Delaware State Arts Council. She has been honored by the Delaware Division of Child Mental Health Services and earned several awards including the YWCA’s Woman of the Century Award, the ACLU of Delaware’s Gerald E. Kandler Memorial Award, the Delaware Bar Association’s Legislator of the Year Award, and the Alexis I. DuPont Bayard Award, and was inducted into the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame, She also received the Order of the First State and the Junior League of America 2019 Mary Harriman Community Leadership Award, and the 2018 Wilmington Senior Center Lifetime Achievement Award. She was honored with the rarely given Dick DiSabatino Award, named for former DSCC Chairman Richard DiSabatino Sr. from the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. In July 2020, the new Christina River Bridge at the Wilmington Riverfront was dedicated to Henry.