I.O.O.F Towson Lodge #79
505 York Rd
Towson, MD 21204
Supporting the Towson Town Families and Communities since 1852
About Us
Our Officers and Members
Noble Grand-Ricky Parker
Right Support-Shane Gullivan PG
Left Support-Keith Barbera PG
Vice Grand-Willie DeLoach PG
Right Support-Albert Heinbaugh
Left Support-Bob Graziosi
Past Grand-Willie DeLoach PG
Recording/Financial Secretary-Melody Taylor PG
Treasurer-Gene Leasure PGM
Warden-Charles Miller
Conductor David Gans, Jr. PG
Chaplain-James Norman
Color Bearer- Je’Mira Spriggs
Inside Guardian-OPEN
Outside Guardian-OPEN
Right Scene Support-OPEN
Left Scene Support-OPEN
Grand Lodge Representative-Gene Leasure PGM
Grand Lodge Alt. Representative-Melody Taylor PG
District Deputy Grand Master- David Brown GW
Honorary Member-Ed Foreman PGM
Steve Smith-PGM
Rosie Shipman
Rosalind Morrisey
Past Noble Grands/Past Grands (PG), who are still members.
David Gans, Jr.
Shane Gullivan
Keith Barbera
Gene Leasure
Steve Smith
Willie Deloach
Melody Taylor
History Of Towson Odd Fellows
Towson, the County seat of Baltimore County, was founded in 1752 by brothers William and Thomas Towson. Both brothers were farmers and Towson remained primarily a farming community until the early 1800's. Baltimore's importance to East Coast commerce grew due to its large Chesapeake Bay port. This made the York Road corridor a busy avenue for goods and services. Towsontowne, as it was originally known in its early days, profited from its centralized location, between York, Pennsylvania, and Baltimore, Maryland. With the increase of commerce traffic, Towson soon outgrew its farming-only status and became involved in all kinds of commerce, including iron production.
As Towsontowne grew it increasingly became important to Maryland's economy, and so did the prominence of its citizenry. A century after Towson's founding, in 1752, the growing hamlet was designated the County seat, of Baltimore County. This was largely accomplished, due to the generosity of Doctor Grafton Bosley. Doctor Bosley donated large tracts of land to build a Court House, a Jail, and our historic Towson Odd Fellows Lodge, which was also completed and chartered, in 1852. The founders of Towson Lodge # 79, which included Doctor Bosley, named their new organization, after their hero General Nathan Towson. General Towson was a member of the family of Towsontowne's founders who moved to the newly purchased Louisiana Territory, at an early age. Soon after his arrival, the War of 1812 broke out. General Towson organized a militia company and fought to defend his new home, from the British. His exploits at the Battle of Erie earned him a hero's ranking and the respect and admiration of Towson Lodge's members.
Towson Lodge extended their charter membership to General Towson and he refused, citing his religious convictions, but he was so moved, that Lodge # 79 was named in his honor, he donated a portrait of himself to the lodge that was painted when he was a young military officer. A year later, General Towson died at his home, in Washington, D.C. General Towson's portrait remains in a prominent place within our lodge, to this day, as we celebrate one hundred and seventy-two years of continual service to the Towson community. We hope you will join us, as our membership continues to make history.
Announcing the Darlene Parker Memorial Scholarship
Darlene Parker, PGM
Exemplary Maryland Odd Fellow
Exemplary Maryland Odd Fellow
1955 - 2023
Past Grand Master (2017)
Working in the field of psychology, Darlene Parker was a Mental Health Worker and an Odd Fellow phenomenon who aided those in distress. Her career path made her suitably equipped to lead and support the true principles of Odd fellowship, Friendship, Love and Truth!
Exemplary Maryland Odd Fellow
Exemplary Maryland Odd Fellow
Exemplary Maryland Odd Fellow
Towson Lodge' #79 First African American Female Noble Grand
Maryland's First African American PGM
North America and United States First Female African-American Odd Fellow PGM
Helping Others
Exemplary Maryland Odd Fellow
Helping Others
Tirelessly helping others and promoting Odd Fellowship in Maryland, Darlene Parker left a legacy of Friendship, Love, and Truth in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was honored and supported by the Maryland Encampment, Rebekahs, and Patriarch Militants.
Help us raise Funds to support community and Local Causes
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions: "to visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead, and educate the orphan." Your generous donation will fund area missions.
Want to learn more....
All About Odd fellowship
"visit the sick, relieve the distressed, bury the dead, and educate the orphan"
https://www.marylandoddfellows.org/