Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Maryland Delegate Jared Solomon, County Councilmember Will Jawando, Coffield’s daughter Myra Coffield, and community leaders unveiled a commemorative plaque honoring the life and legacy of Charlotte Coffield, former president of the Lyttonsville Community Civic Association, on Thursday, June 25, at the Talbot Avenue Bridge in Silver Spring. The ceremony recognized Coffield’s lifelong dedication to preserving the history and cultural heritage of African Americans in the County.
“I knew Charlotte for a long time; she was the epitome of ‘good trouble’ because she would always fight for what’s right,” said County Executive Elrich. “She was the kind of civic activist who was a pleasure to work with. She fought for this community, the nearby Gwendolyn E. Coffield Community Recreation Center named after her sister, and this bridge. She was a wonderful human being; this is something we’re doing to recognize her and make sure that she’s always remembered for what she did in this community. I know the people who live here are going to continue her memory and share with new people who come here about the history of this community, how it became what it was, and what role Charlotte played in making all this possible.”
The Talbot Avenue Bridge has long been a symbol of the County’s complex history of segregation, resilience, and transformation, serving as an enduring reminder of both physical division and racial segregation. For decades, the single‑lane, wooden and steel structure served as the only point of access from the historically Black neighborhood of Lyttonsville in Silver Spring to the surrounding neighborhoods and Washington, D.C.
“Dr. Coffield and her family helped build Lyttonsville, and she dedicated much of her life to ensuring that the stories of those who came before us are never forgotten and that the promise of equal justice is never abandoned,” said Del. Solomon. “As an educator, a civil rights advocate, historian, and community leader, she understood that preserving the history of the Talbot Avenue Bridge was more than protecting an object—it was about honoring the people who crossed it in pursuit of opportunity, dignity, and hope. I’m blessed to have partnered with her and other leaders on that effort. Her legacy and work remind us that acknowledging and understanding the wrongs of the past gives us the opportunity to build a more just future.”
Advertisement
The original 100‑year‑old bridge was removed in spring 2019 to make way for construction of the Purple Line. It was replaced in 2024 with the modern bridge that stands today: a wider, two-way, ADA‑compliant structure with broad sidewalks and upgraded multilayer safety fencing. The main span of the historic bridge was preserved and is planned for future display at a park along the Capital Crescent Trail.
“Charlotte Coffield was a daughter of Lyttonsville and a groundbreaking leader whose fight for justice reached every corner of Montgomery County, from securing paved roads and running water for her own neighborhood to championing opportunities for children, youth, and seniors,” said County Councilmember Jawando. “The Talbot Avenue Bridge was once a tool of segregation. But now, carrying her name, it will stand as a lasting tribute to a life devoted to justice and community.”
Just as the bridge has changed over the years, the County itself has evolved from its past. Coffield grew up in a segregated Silver Spring. Up until the late 1960s, there was a time in the County’s history when African Americans faced discrimination in nearly every aspect of daily life. Redlining and racially restrictive deed covenants prevented Black residents from living in most of Silver Spring throughout much of the twentieth century. As a result, the Lyttonsville community relied heavily on the Talbot Avenue Bridge for access to medical care, shopping, transportation, essential services, and employment.
“I want to thank the organizers, the planners, and the people who suggested that she should be remembered in this way,” said Charlotte’s daughter Myra Coffield. “My mother was born on Juneteenth. She was born on the day that the country marks as the end of slavery, and she spent her lifetime battling the effects after that day. The racial covenants that kept these neighborhoods apart, that separated families and people living just across the tracks from one another, that history didn’t end with Emancipation. It found new forms, and my mom fought those forms her whole life. The Talbot Avenue Bridge was never just a crossing to her; she understood that preserving it and rebuilding it wasn’t just about steel or concrete or timber—it was about reuniting the people that history had worked hard to divide. She spoke about it and spoke up for it repeatedly for years.”
Coffield was a lifelong resident of Lyttonsville and a passionate community activist who dedicated her life to service. In 2019, she received the County’s Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Award, which honors individuals who make extraordinary contributions to the quality of life in Montgomery County.
A lifelong County resident, she was recognized for serving as a shining example of what one person can do to make the world a better place. In addition to serving as president of the Lyttonsville Community Civic Association, Coffield was a leader on historic preservation, transportation and land use, and planning issues. She also was instrumental in saving Rosemary Hills Elementary School from closure. She served as a member of the African American Heritage Sign Committee and the Talbot Avenue Bridge Centennial Committee. Over the years, she has been involved in numerous community activities, including Head Start, the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, the Rosemary Hills Community School Council, and the Gwendolyn Coffield Community Center Seniors Advisory Committee.
Advertisement
Coffield was also recognized for her remarkable work in support of the deaf and hearing‑impaired community. She made history as the first sign language interpreter in the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and went on to become a nationally respected expert in interpreter training programs.
Charlotte Coffield passed away in September 2024 at the age of 91. Her legacy of advocacy, leadership, and love for Lyttonsville continues to guide and inspire residents throughout Montgomery County.
With the installation of a commemorative plaque, the County honors that legacy and ensures that future generations remember Charlotte Coffield’s enduring impact on the community and the bridge that meant so much to her.
# # #
Media Contact: Mark Roper, 240-962-1743, Mark.Roper@montgomerycounty.gov
Read the original article at mcgov