Maycie Herrington (November 7, 1918 – May 24, 2016) was an African-American history conservator, social worker, and community volunteer known for her work to preserve the history of the Tuskegee Airmen.[1] She was involved with the Tuskegee Airmen from World War II, when she worked for the Red Cross while her husband Aaron trained to become a fighter pilot.[2] Herrington died on May 24, 2016, at the age of 97.[1][3]

Maycie Herrington
Born
Maycie Copeland

(1918-11-07)November 7, 1918
DiedMay 24, 2016(2016-05-24) (aged 97)
EducationWashington High School
Alma materSt. Augustine's University
Occupation(s)Black history conservator, community volunteer
SpouseAaron Herrington
ChildrenAnn Herrington, Kay M. Herrington
Parent(s)Dicie Copeland
Thomas Copeland

Biography

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Early life

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Maycie Herrington (née Copeland) was born to Thomas and Dicie Copeland on November 7, 1918, in Raleigh, North Carolina.[2][4] Herrington went to the grade school associated with St. Augustine College and then enrolled into the Lucille Hunter School.[4] She received her high school education at Washington High School, graduating 1936.[2]

College years

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Herrington returned to the St. Augustine's University campus to attend college. During her time as an undergraduate, she met Aaron Herrington, a fellow student. She graduated in 1940 with a Bachelor of Science degree.[2]

Marriage and children

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Three years after graduating from college, Herrington married Aaron Herrington in 1943.[2][4] Their daughter Ann was born in 1944.[2] A second child Kay Marie was to be welcomed in 1956 after the couple moved to California.

Tuskegee Airmen experience

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Shortly after their wedding, Aaron Herrington received orders to report to Tuskegee, Alabama, by the military for training as a fighter pilot as part of the Tuskegee Airmen in 1943. Maycie Herrington quit her job at Mechanics and Farmers Bank where she had been working as a bookkeeper in order to join her husband in Tuskegee, Alabama.[4]

She went to work for the Red Cross and interacted with many of the Tuskegee Airmen.[4]

Following the death of her husband in 1995, Herrington assumed his position in the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc and since 1996 has continued his work to memorialize the Tuskegee Airmen.[2] As part of these efforts, she designed and produced a series of trading cards documenting individual members of the Tuskegee Airmen.[4] She became secretary of the organization in 1998.[2]

Social work

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Following World War II, the Herringtons moved to Long Beach, California.[4] Maycie Herrington was hired by the Bureau for Public Assistance as a social worker in 1949, a position that she held for more than 30 years. In this role, she worked with the Long Beach Area Welfare Planning Council United Way. Maycie and Aaron had a second daughter born to them, Kay Marie Herrington, in 1956. She also organized the summer camps and Christmas activities run by the bureau.[4] She retired in 1981.[2]

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b Zonkel, Phillip (2016-05-25). "Maycie Herrington, 1918-2016: Long Beach woman who preserved Tuskegee Airmen history dies at 97". Press-Telegram. Archived from the original on 2016-08-06. Retrieved 2016-08-06.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Guide to the Maycie Herrington Papers". Regents of the University of California. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Maycie Ruth Herrington". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Maycie Herrington". HistoryMakers. Retrieved 29 November 2013.

Further reading

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