Mildred Catherine Kelly (1928 - 2003)

Born 24 Jan 1928 in Chattanooga, Hamilton, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Mildred Kelly is Notable.

Mildred C. Kelly was the first African-American woman to hold the rank of Command Sergeant Major (highest enlisted rank) and became the first female Command Sergeant Major of a major Army installation. She was also the first African American female to reach the rank of sergeant major.

Mildred was born in 1928. ^[1] graduated from Knoxville College in 1949 and began her career as a high school teacher. She enlisted in the Army in 1950 and served for 26 years. in 1972, she became the first black female sergeant major in the history of the US Army, and two years later became the first female command sergeant major of any major Army installation at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.

She died of cancer in 2003 and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery.^[2]

Obituary Excerpt

Mildred Catherine Kelly departed this life on Monday, Jan. 27, 2003.

She was born on Jan. 24, 1928, in Chattanooga to the late Maxie Denver and Willie Elliott Kelly.

She graduated from Howard High School in Chattanooga and went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in chemistry and mathematics from Knoxville College in Knoxville. From 1974 through 1976, Mildred continued her post-graduate studies at American University and George Washington University, both in Washington, D.C. ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J1N6-625 : 9 January 2021), Mildred C Kelly, 27 Jan 2003; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
2. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48768862/mildred-c-kelly: accessed 21 June 2023), memorial page for Mildred C Kelly (24 Jan 1928–27 Jan 2003), Find a Grave Memorial ID 48768862, citing Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by John C. Anderson (contributor 47208015).
3. ↑ "United States, GenealogyBank Obituaries, Births, and Marriages 1980-2014," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKW5-PD7F : accessed 21 June 2023), Ms Mildred Catherine Kelly, Tennessee, United States, 09 Feb 2003; from "Recent Newspaper Obituaries (1977 - Today)," database, GenealogyBank.com (http://www.genealogybank.com : 2014); citing Chattanooga Times Free Press, born-digital text.

See also:

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SP4Q-QXD : accessed 21 June 2023), Kathrine Kelly in household of Fredick Jordon, Chattanooga, Hamilton, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 10, sheet 10A, line 20, family 199, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2250; FHL microfilm 2,341,984.
• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4HP-2PY : 11 January 2021), Catherine Kelly in household of Will Kelly, Civil District 1, Hamilton, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 96-30, sheet 11A, line 34, family 257, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3952.
• "5 African American women who made U.S. military history," United States Air Force, Web (af.mil, accessed 21 Jun 2023) link.
• Wikidata: Item Q116240762, en:Wikipedia
• "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KQG-B6B7 : 10 February 2023), Mildred Catherine Kelly, .