Honoring Mae Abraham: The Mae Luncheon

The Mae Abraham Legacy Luncheon was established to honor our co-founder, Mae Abraham. Mae Ashley Abraham was born in 1927 in western North Carolina to Rev. Arthur Ashley and Molly Williams Ashley. She grew up with 10 siblings in a traditional Baptist household.

While seeking more information and help with alcoholism, Mae met Father Joseph C. Martin at one of his infamous “chalk talks” at Johns Hopkins University. He identified alcoholism as a disease — not a moral failing. He didn’t preach or demoralize. After hearing him speak, Mae said she could finally accept what was wrong with her. That night she stopped drinking and remained sober for the rest of her life.

In 1976, Mae proposed that she and Father Martin open a recovery facility so people with substance use disorder could learn about their addiction and recover from it.

Known for her passion and persistence, Mae was the driving force behind fundraising enough money to acquire Sen. Millard Tydings’ former estate in Havre de Grace, Maryland, to eventually open and begin treating patients for substance use disorder on January 17^th, 1983.

Now known as Ashley Addiction Treatment, the treatment center Mae and Father Martin founded has helped to change more than 50,000 lives. Mae remained very involved with Ashley throughout her life, giving talks and serving as the personification of sobriety. Despite her death on August 23, 2019, at the age of 92, Mae continues to be a symbol of hope and healing.

We’re excited to take the time to pay tribute to a remarkable woman who dedicated her life to the cause of recovery with resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication. The funds raised will be allocated to the Mae Abraham Scholarship Fund, dedicated to supporting women seeking substance use disorder services and recovery assistance at Ashley.

Established in 2012, The Mae Abraham Scholarship Fund has gone on to help women who would not qualify for any other fund, are underinsured, or uninsured. Helping to cover full days, or partial days of treatment.