Virginia Harrison attended Carver Technical High School where her passion for dressmaking and design began. She was inducted into the Carver Vocational High School Hall of Fame in 1992. After exploring several employment opportunities, her successful eight-year FBI service earned her numerous awards and commendations for exceptional performance and productivity. But Mrs. Harrison found that her FBI career could not compete with her passion for dressmaking. She founded “Dress by Virginia,” a successful business operation in Eldersburg, Maryland.

Mrs. Harrison is noted for her involvement in her community, making significant contributions in education, youth programs, and human relations. She serves on the Human Relations Commission, with the Carroll Citizens for Racial Equality, the Carroll County Community Service Board, the Local Management Board, the Department of Social Services Board, and the Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County. Her interests in supporting youth activities lead to her involvement with The United Way’s Community Partnership, The YWCA of Greater Maryland, and the South Carroll Diversity Roundtable. In 2015 She received the Boy Scouts of America Good Scout Award and Chair of the Boy Scouts of America Award in 2016. Mrs. Harrison was appointed to the Carroll County Board of Education in 2014 and was elected to the board in 2010 and again in 2014. Her commitment to quality education was enhanced by her involvement with the Advisory Council on Career and Technology Education.

Her many major service awards include the Nancy S. Gramick Excellence in Minority Achievement Award (1999), NAACP’s Maryland’s Most Beautiful Person Award (2005), the Eldersburg Eagle Newspapers “Man of the Year” award (2006), and the United Way of Maryland’s Bernard Cook Meritorious Leadership Award (2012).

Mrs. Harrison has been married to Charles Harrison for almost 50 years. They have two adult daughters (Tia and Tiane) and have five grandchildren.

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