Maryland House of Delegates Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, the first woman and first person of color to hold her position, stepped down from her leadership post Thursday, effective immediately.

Jones, 71, has been a member of the legislature since 1997 and ascended to the top role in 2019 following the death of longtime House Speaker Michael E. Busch.

Jones held a meeting with top House Democratic leaders Thursday afternoon, sources said, at which she informed them of her decision. In a statement, Jones described the changes of life’s seasons and said she was ready to focus on what lies ahead.

“Now is the time for me to step back and ‘raise high’ the stars of my leadership team. I am turning my attention to coaching and mentoring and offering guidance and support to the next Speaker for a smooth transition,” Jones said. “When elected speaker, I never intended this to be forever. I wanted to help build the next generation of House leaders and prepare them for the challenges in front of us as a state.”

Jones, a Baltimore County Democrat, will remain a member of the House of Delegates. However, it is not immediately clear who will succeed her in presiding over the chamber. The House Democratic Caucus will meet Dec. 16 to select Jones’ replacement.

Under chamber rules, Del. Dana Stein, the speaker pro tem, will serve in Jones’ role until a successor is chosen.

Admiration for Jones came flooding in from her peers in Annapolis as word of her decision spread. Gov. Wes Moore praised Jones’ accomplishments and reflected on their relationship. Moore said the speaker served as a friend and mentor.

“She leads by example, putting service above self across five decades, and that will not change as she steps down from leadership while still serving District 10,” Moore said in a statement.

Senate President Bill Ferguson, Jones’ counterpart in the General Assembly’s other chamber, wrote on social media that serving alongside her was one of his “greatest honors.” He heaped praise on her leadership through COVID-19 and in making challenging budget decisions.

“Her thoughtful leadership, wise counsel, and heartfelt nature has been invaluable,” Ferguson wrote online. “Speaker Jones leaves a legacy of transformative policy, and Marylanders are better off because of her services as the Speaker of Maryland’s House of Delegates.”

Even Republicans who rarely saw eye to eye with Jones on matters of policy recognized the historic nature of her tenure.

“I was proud to lead House Republicans with Del. Nic Kipke in electing Adrienne A. Jones as Maryland’s first woman and first African American speaker of the House of Delegates,” said Kathy Szeliga, a Baltimore County Republican who served as the minority whip in 2019.

Before she was speaker, Jones served 16 years as second-in-command to Busch. In those days, she was little known outside western Baltimore County. She had a reputation as a quiet leader and a hard worker.

When Busch died, Jones and two others — Dels. Maggie McIntosh and Dereck Davis, now state treasurer — sought to replace him. Jones didn’t have the votes at first, but when Davis and McIntosh deadlocked, she was able to ascend to the speakership.

Virtually overnight her stature in the community changed. Suddenly, Jones was well known. She was asked for pictures at events, surrounded by well-wishers who were aware of the historic nature of her rise.

“It was like a whirlwind,” she told The Baltimore Sun at the time.

Her tenure was defined by strong support of Democratic causes, including the successful effort to include the right to abortion in the state constitution. Recently, she threw her support behind Moore’s push for midcycle redistricting, an effort to combat Republican redistricting in red states.

Jones played a central role in a $577 million settlement that ended a 15-year court fight between the state and its historically Black colleges and universities in 2021. The schools argued the state had underfunded them for years and put them at a disadvantage by allowing other colleges to duplicate their programs.

“I have accomplished much during my work, and I am confident the boxes are checked,” Jones said Thursday.

The sudden resignation of her leadership role marks the end of a difficult year for Jones. Her son Brandon died in February.