Portrait Of Henrietta Lacks Unveiled At City Hall

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A portrait of the woman known as the mother of modern medicine was unveiled at City Hall on Thursday. Henrietta Lacks was a cancer patient at Johns Hopkins Hospital, whose cells are now immortal.

She will now have a permanent place of honor in Baltimore, WJZ's Pat Warren reports.

Henrietta Lacks was 31 years old when she died of cancer more than 50 years ago, but her cells live on as HeLa -- the first two letters of her first and last names -- as the foundation of modern medicine.

Grandson Alfred Lacks Carter and other family members joined the mayor and health professionals in tribute to Lacks.

"It's so profound. She touched everyone," Lacks Carter said.

The Turner Station woman was treated for cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins, when cells were taken without her consent. That led to breakthroughs--from the Polio vaccine to cancer treatment.

"When the story of Henrietta Lacks was first told, it amazed people all over the world," Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said. "And to be able to bring this amazingly beautiful portrait that really spells out her significance and to be able to have it permanently in City Hall, it's a big deal."

Her family is also excited.

"She's the gift that keeps on giving, and the whole family is immensely proud of her," said grandson David Lacks Jr.

"We're getting ready to roll out our own family foundation -- Henrietta Lacks Legacy Foundation -- so we're really excited to make this part of it," said Pam Wilks, family member.

Lacks' family members didn't know about her cells until 20 years after her death.

Her family has spoken at more than 100 events over the past few years.

In 2011, Morgan State awarded a posthumous honorary degree of public service to Henrietta Lacks.