Sheryl Jones Alu, Esq. of Solomons, Md., died January 15, 2013. Born and raised in Emmaus, she was the daughter of Lloyd and Blanche Jones, of Allentown.

She was a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College where she was part of the first women's graduating class at the college. After graduation, she began her extensive law career as a paralegal for Elias Matz Tiernan, of Washington, D.C. She subsequently received her Juris Doctorate from Emory Law School in Atlanta, Ga. and returned to Elias Matz as an associate and eventually became of counsel. Known for her expertise in mergers and acquisition, she was often sought to litigate for corporate finance and securities law and handled Blue Sky security matters. Her recent legal practice was as chief counsel for Jones Alu Law and recently of counsel with the Prince Frederick firm of Davis Upton Palumbo & Dougherty.

She was a Calvert County resident for over 30 years. She served on the Ethics Commission from 1996 through 2011 and as its chair from 2005 to 2011. She was a member of the Compensation Review Board, the Annmarie Garden Board of Directors, the Calvert County Lighting Task Force and the Redistricting Committee. She served as the president of the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce, as well as a board member of the Safe Harbor Inc. board of directors. In 1997, she was recognized as Republican Woman of the Year.

She is survived by her parents; brother, Lloyd H., of Emmaus; niece, Stephanie Berdik, of Boston; nephew, Collin, of New York City.

Contributions may be made to the Sheryl Jones Alu Memorial Fund c/o Clavert Memorial Hospital Foundation at CMH Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 2127, Prince Frederick, Md., 20678.