Warden Mumford, who was born on November 28, 1959, graduated from Salisbury University, with a bachelor’s degree in social work in 1981. After graduating, he served as a military police investigator, juvenile investigator, and drug investigator in the United States Army from 1982 to 1987.
He joined the Worcester County team in late 1987, as an investigator with the State’s Attorney’s Office. During that time, he attended the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy at Wor-Wic Community College, where he earned certification as a law enforcement officer by December 1988. In December 2000, he was promoted to the position of assistant warden/security and custody officer at the County Jail, and in April 2011 he was promoted to warden, after former Warden Ira F. “Buck” Shockley retired from the County.
Warden Mumford was known for his professionalism, his commitment, and his courteous treatment of all. His leadership played a key role in the Worcester County Jail having been recognized consecutively for the past 14 years with the Recognition of Achievement Award from the Maryland Commission on Correctional Standards (MCCS) for achieving 100% compliance with Maryland regulations for the quality of service he and his staff provided. He was known and respected throughout the state for his fair, humane, and respectful treatment of all at the Jail, from the inmates to their families and friends, to their attorneys and to anyone else involved.
“Last night Worcester County lost Warden Garry Mumford,” Commission President Jim Bunting said. “Garry was a dedicated and highly respected leader in our community. On a personal level, we have been friends since we were young boys. I will miss Garry. God bless him and his family.”
Warden Mumford was especially proud of his staff, quickly giving them credit for the high standards to which he held his agency. After receiving the most recent MCCS award, Warden Mumford said of his staff, “The County is fortunate to have this wonderful group of employees who care about the quality of services provided at the Jail.” Again in 2016, he said publicly of his staff, “The correctional officers at any correctional facility have the awesome responsibility of serving, managing, and safeguarding the welfare of inmates each and every day, and our officers here at the Worcester County Jail do it in such a way that all of us should be proud.”
“Warden Mumford led our team for the past six years,” Assistant Warden Donna Bounds said. “As our leader, he gave his heart and soul to everyone he encountered on a daily basis. Warden Mumford provided strong leadership and was a great teacher, but most of all a great friend. The Worcester County Jail is struggling today with this tremendous loss of our leader and friend.”
In addition to his leadership at the Jail, Warden Mumford was also extremely active in the community. He was a member of the Atlantic General Hospital Board of Directors and former Worcester County Board of Education member. His professional and volunteer contributions made a positive impact on those of all ages. He is survived by his cherished wife of more than 19 years and retired Clerk of Court employee, Faith.
My prayers for the family.....I enjoyed running on the road with Gary.... seeing him at the gym....what a fabulous person....will miss him.....God Bless
ReplyDeleteGod Bless him and God Bless condolences and peace to his family, friends and colleagues at the county.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for his family's loss. Now I wonder if Worcester County is going to replace him with another black man? There have only been two wardens in Worcester County's history, and they have both been black. Maybe it's a prerequisite. I guess we'll have to wait and see if one has to be black in order to be appointed to that very high paying position, one of the highest in the county.
ReplyDeleteI'm white, and a male and lean so far to the right that I go in circles and race should have nothing to do with this. If a man, or woman is qualified for the job, then they should be the one in the position. As long as we white people use the narrative that someone should not have something because they are black then we will always be considered and labeled racists! This will also allow the left and the black community to use that narrative on us - and how can we defend it if we are perpetuating it? For us all, as Americans, to move forward, we need to keep race out of everything. No black, white, African American, latino...just American. If the person, the American, is the best and most qualified for the job, then they should be the one hired for the position.
Deleteit is rumored he started out with allergy and flu like symptoms.found out it was the meningitis bacteria. rib brother. hope they test the rest of the employees and inmates. can you say spinal tap?
ReplyDeleteI met Garry when I worked on the recent jail expansion in 2008 when Buck was still Warden. A great man and great leader of the prisoners. His very personal and caring demeanor came through with me, the crews, and every prisoner interaction I witnessed. Truly a great loss to his family and friends, and Worcester County in general.
ReplyDeleteRIP, Garry.
Wonder if he will get half the circus the OC Firefighter is?
ReplyDeleteThat's the truth. Gary was 10 times the person, just not a farmen.
DeleteApril 24, 2017 at 6:11 PM
ReplyDelete"If the person, the American, is the best and most qualified for the job, then they should be the one hired for the position."
You're right....
That is, unless you're white. To do what you say is called racist and whites would disproportionately get the best jobs. Race, more importantly being a minority, trumps qualifications in government hiring and promotions. That liberal, PC, affirmative action crap, that government hiring engages engages in, makes your common sense comment just a bunch of bologna.
Only met Gary once. He was very nice. I know some of his family and they are wonderful people. I'm so sorry for their loss.
DeleteEar infection which is a form of step and can be deadly. It's unusual in this country but not unheard of. It's more frequent in the UK because the medical care is substandard.
ReplyDeleteI've had the opportunity to work with Warden Mumford several times as a volunteer at the Worcester County jail and the first thing that anyone that has worked in any jail system will notice is how happy and/or disgruntled the officer's can be. Every time I was at the Worcester County jail all the staff was great unlike ALL the surrounding counties/state jails and it was because Warden Mumford was genuinely a great person that did his job and did it well his employees had great respect for him and so did i. Believe it or not mostly every inmate had a good deal of respect for him also. I have worked as a volunteer in many jails but Warden Mumford and the Worcester County jail are top shelf he'll be hard to replace my condolences to everyone.
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