2016 Lower-Shore Woman of Distinction, Gayle Widdowson
Following the philanthropic tradition of her grandfather, Avery Hall and mother Ginny Korff, Gayle Widdowson has spent her entire adult life giving back to her community. She has served in leadership capacities for both Asbury Church in Salisbury and Atlantic Methodist Church in Ocean City. She is a lifetime member of PRMC’s Junior Auxiliary Board, and the Wicomico Garden Club. When her children, Austin, Colin and Sally were at Worcester Prep., Gayle was President of the Parent Association. She has served on many non-profits in the past including Life Crisis and The Wellness Community. Currently she is on the Executive Committee of the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore and Vice Chair of the Women’s Fund. She is the Chairperson of Coastal Hospice’s Development Committee, where she and her husband Dirk have worked diligently for the past few years to bring Coastal Hospice at the Ocean to fruition. Gayle has also been involved with the Ocean City based fundraising group “Beads of Life” which sponsors special events for the American Red Cross and Coastal Hospice. She follows her passion for art as a very active board member of the Ocean City Art League. And in Salisbury, she serves on the board of the John B. Parsons Home. When not volunteering, Gayle runs her own design business, “Art of Design”, where she works on both residential and commercial projects here on the shore. Most importantly, she is “GiGi” to her grandchildren Skylar and Barrett.