Biography of Mrs. Benson

Joanne C. Benson was elected in 1991 to The House of Delegates of the Maryland General Assembly to represent Prince George’s County’s 24th Legislative District. In 2011 she was elected to serve as the 24th District’s first female Senator. Senator Benson currently serves in leadership as Majority Whip of the Senate. She is a member of the Budget and Taxation Committee, serves as Chair of Procurement, and member of Education, Business and Administration and Pensions Subcommittees, Joint Committees include Audit and Evaluations, Children, Youth and Families; Ending Homelessness; Fair Practices and State Personnel Oversight; and has been appointed to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. She also is a member of the Women Legislators of Maryland and the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.

Joanne C. Benson was born in Roanoke, Virginia. She is the daughter of the Reverend and Mrs. William Claybon. She is one of a patrician line of six --- four sisters and one brother. Her family relocated early on to Hagerstown, Maryland where she attended public schools and graduated from South Hagerstown High School. Mrs. Benson holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Bowie State University and a Master of Arts Degree from Catholic University. She believes that education is one of the most powerful tools anyone could possess. She is a constant proponent for the strongest quality education for all Prince George’s County’s children.

Mrs. Benson takes great pride in her forty-year career as an educator in Prince George’s County Public Schools. She has served in a number of capacities in the school system – Teacher, Facilitator, Master Teacher, Instructional Support Specialist, Principal, Human Relation Specialist and Parent Involvement Specialist. Mrs. Benson is an activist and vigorous advocate for children, seniors, families, the disabled, and veterans. She has been a civil rights activist all her life advocating for unions, workers’ rights and teachers and helping to desegregate schools. Fostering an inclusive environment for all who she encounters. She has taken homeless families into her home. She has assisted in finding homes for the homeless. She has dedicated her entire career to helping provide personal and academic excellence for children. She assisted in encouraging Governor Glendening to establish the HOPE Scholarship Fund as well as providing scholarships to students who major in mathematics and science. Even though she has retired from the school system, she continues to mentor and visit schools.

Mrs. Benson is a passionate Christian woman who cares about and loves people. She believes in the power of love and prayer, and that you do what the Lord requires. She is a 40-year Breast Cancer Survivor, and she has always advocated for women’s health. She is a member of First Baptist Church of Glenarden. She is constantly defending, protecting, advocating and fighting for the homeless, hopeless and helpless. She pushes established rules to the limit to improve the quality of life for people, especially the most vulnerable in our communities.

She has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is a principle-centered leader for all times. She continues to live by her one maxim: “If I can help somebody as I pass along in this life, then my living will not be in vain."