Montgomery County officials, community leaders and family members gathered Thursday in Silver Spring to unveil a commemorative plaque honoring the life and legacy of Charlotte Coffield, a longtime Lyttonsville community leader, civil rights advocate and historic preservation champion who died in September 2024 at the age of 91.
The ceremony, held at the Talbot Avenue Bridge, featured remarks from Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Maryland Delegate Jared Solomon, County Councilmember Will Jawando and Coffield’s daughter, Myra Coffield. Speakers highlighted Coffield’s decades of advocacy on behalf of the Lyttonsville community, her efforts to preserve African American history in Montgomery County and her role in protecting the historic significance of the Talbot Avenue Bridge, which for decades served as the only connection between the historically Black neighborhood of Lyttonsville and surrounding communities.
Coffield, who received Montgomery County’s Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Award in 2019, was also recognized for her work in education, transportation, historic preservation and advocacy for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Officials said the commemorative plaque will help ensure that future generations remember Coffield’s contributions to Montgomery County and her lifelong commitment to justice, equity and community service.
