Annapolis City Council Approves Street Renaming in Old Fourth Ward to Honor Influential Community Leader Delorma “Dee” Goodwyn

The Annapolis City Council unanimously approved a resolution this week honoring longtime community advocate Delorma “Dee” Goodwyn by designating a portion of Northwest Street within the Historic Old 4th Ward community as “DeLorma ‘Dee’ Goodwyn Way.

Related: City of Annapolis Mourns Passing of Influential Community Leader Dee Goodwyn

The resolution recognizes the life and legacy of Goodwyn, a lifelong resident of Annapolis who passed away in January. The dedication will apply to Northwest Street between Church Circle and College Creek, an area closely connected to Goodwyn’s early years in the city.

“Dee embodied the very best of Annapolis,” said Mayor Jared Littmann in a statement. “She was known to all for her warmth, spirit, and infectious smile, but I remember her best as a friend. Northwest Street is where she spent her formative years and every member of the council agreed that this small act on our behalf ensures her very big legacy will continue to inspire for generations.” 

Goodwyn was deeply committed to serving her community. She was a founding member of the Caucus of African American Leaders and led efforts to establish the Guardians of the First Amendment Memorial in downtown Annapolis, honoring the journalists and staff killed in the 2018 Capital Gazette shooting.

Ms. Goodwyn also championed the Parren J. Mitchell memorial located outside the Pip Moyer Recreation Center on Hilltop Lane. Her public service included serving on the City of Annapolis Human Relations Commission and, more recently, the Anne Arundel County Personnel Board. Known for her warmth and ability to bring people together, Goodwyn is remembered for her brilliant smile, distinctive personal style, and for making others feel welcomed and valued. During a time of national division, she was recognized as a unifying presence within the community.

Among her many initiatives, Goodwyn organized the Michelle Obama Awards, which in 2019, marking the 100-year anniversary of women’s suffrage, recognized women in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County who were engaged in meaningful but often unheralded community work.

Carl Snowden, Convener for the Caucus of African American Leaders, released the following statement to Report Annapolis News shortly after Ms. Goodwyn's passing:

"Dee Goodwyn was one of those rare human beings who combined her passionate belief with action. Her legacy is in what she did, not what she said. Her accomplishments included being a founding member of the Caucus of African American Leaders and building memorials to preserve the history and culture of Black people in the City of Annapolis. She was my closest confidant. Tears, not words, describe best this sad moment for me, her family, friends, and a community that she loved with all her heart and soul."