IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 573
Honoring the life of Mildred McWilliams ‘‘Millie’’ Jeffrey (1910–2004) and 
her contributions to her community and to the nation. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 24, 2004
Ms. KILPATRICK submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Honoring the life of Mildred McWilliams ‘‘Millie’’ Jeffrey 
(1910–2004) and her contributions to her community 
and to the nation.
Whereas Mildred McWilliams ‘‘Millie’’ Jeffrey, a social justice 
activist, a retired UAW Director of the Consumer Affairs 
Department and a Governor Emerita of Wayne State 
University, died peacefully surrounded by her family on 
March 23, 2004, in the Metro Detroit area at the age of 
93; 
Whereas in 2000, President William Jefferson Clinton award-
ed Millie the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian 
award bestowed by the United States government; 
Whereas in seeking world peace by ensuring equality for all, 
Millie spent a lifetime working on labor, civil rights, edu-
•HRES 573 IH 
cation, health care, youth employment, and recreation 
issues; 
Whereas Millie brought inspiration and humor to the many 
people she touched and did so with optimism and un-
daunted spirit; 
Whereas Millie’s list of accomplishments and awards is long 
but what she is most remembered for is her zest for orga-
nizing, including mentoring legions of women and men in 
the labor, civil rights, women’s rights, and peace move-
ments; 
Whereas President Clinton stated that ‘‘Her impact will be 
felt for generations, and her example never forgotten’’; 
Whereas Millie was born in Alton, Iowa on December 29, 
1910, and was the oldest of seven children; 
Whereas in 1932 Millie was graduated from the University 
of Minnesota with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and 
in 1934 Millie received a master’s degree in Social Econ-
omy and Social Research from Bryn Mawr College; 
Whereas Millie became an organizer for the Amalgamated 
Clothing Workers of America in Philadelphia and then 
Educational Director of the Pennsylvania Joint Board of 
Shirt Workers; 
Whereas in 1936, she married fellow Amalgamated Clothing 
Workers of America organizer Homer Newman Jeffrey, 
and they traveled throughout the South and East orga-
nizing textile workers; 
Whereas during World War II, the Jeffreys worked in Wash-
ington, D.C. as consultants to the War Labor Board, 
where they became close friends with Walter, Victor, and 
Roy Reuther;
•HRES 573 IH 
Whereas Millie and Newman Jeffrey moved to Detroit in 
1944 when Victor Reuther offered Millie a job as director 
of the newly formed UAW Women’s Bureau; 
Whereas Millie’s commitment to equal rights fueled her ca-
reer at the UAW; 
Whereas Millie organized the first UAW women’s conference 
in response to the massive postwar layoffs of women pro-
duction workers replaced by returning veterans; 
Whereas from 1949 until 1954, Millie ran the UAW’s radio 
station; 
Whereas Millie moved on to direct the Community Relations 
Department of the UAW; 
Whereas Millie served as Director of the Consumer Affairs 
Department of the UAW from 1968 until her retirement 
in 1976; 
Whereas Millie joined the NAACP in the 1940s and marched 
in the south with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 
1960s; 
Whereas Former Executive Secretary of the Detroit Branch 
of the NAACP, Arthur Johnson, said that ‘‘in the civil 
rights movement, she knew how to fight without being 
disagreeable’’; 
Whereas as a founding member and chair of the National 
Women’s Political Caucus, Millie supported female can-
didates for public office; 
Whereas Millie ran for public office in 1974 and was elected 
by the people of the State of Michigan to the Wayne 
State University Board of Governors, an office she held 
for 16 years (1974–1990);
•HRES 573 IH 
Whereas Millie served three terms as Chair of the Wayne 
State University Board of Governors; 
Whereas Millie loved Wayne State University and was a long-
time resident on campus; 
Whereas Millie never tired of showing visitors around her 
‘‘neighborhood’’—the Adamany Undergraduate Library, 
the Hilberry Theatre, and the Walter P. Reuther Library 
of Wayne State University; 
Whereas Millie thrived in the academic environment enriched 
by Wayne State University students; 
Whereas whether discussing mathematics with teenagers in 
Wayne State University’s Math Corps or strategizing at 
the United Nations Conferences on Women about the 
plight of sweatshop workers, Millie’s capacity for con-
necting with people was unmatched; 
Whereas Millie was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall 
of Fame and was an original member of the board of the 
Michigan Women’s Foundation; 
Whereas Millie served in various leadership roles in a wide 
variety of national and State organizations such as the 
Michigan Women’s Political Caucus, Coalition for Labor 
Union Women (CLUW), EMILY’s List, and the Amer-
ican Civil Liberties Union (ACLU); 
Whereas Millie served on the peer review board of Blue 
Cross; 
Whereas Millie also was an active member of the First Uni-
tarian Universalist Church in Detroit; and 
Whereas the nation mourns the death of Mildred McWilliams 
‘‘Millie’’ Jeffrey: Now, therefore be it
•HRES 573 IH 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors 
the life of Mildred McWilliams ‘‘Millie’’ Jeffrey and her 
contributions to her community and to the nation.
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