Mary Leona Bradley, born on the Rose farm, East Vaolinia Township, Cass County, MI, on 23 August 1923, was the fourth child of William Bradley and his wife Frieda Moxley. Mary graduated from high school in South Bend, IN, in 1941, entered the University of Michigan in 1943, later transferring to Iowa State College (“Mary Leona McDew,” 2007). While at Iowa State, Mary was one of several Black Students not allowed to live in the Home Management House as part of the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) degree program (Ross, 1997).
Shortly after attaining her FCS Bachelor’s Degree in 1945, Mary began teaching at Georgia State College for Colored youth (Now Savannah State University). Her marriage to Dr. Stephen M. McDew occurred in December of that year. The couple had two daughters. (“Mary Leona McDew,” 2007).
Mary Bradley McDew died 21 March 2007 in Savannah, GA. (“Mary Leona McDew,” 2007).
Sources
Mary Leona Mcdew. (2007, 22 March). Legacy. Accessed 22 February 2024. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/mary-mcdew-obituary?id=29357250
Ross, Ann. (1997, 22 April). Personal communication to Farwell T. Brown. Ames History Museum Collection.
