From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (African American Women Veterans in and from Kentucky)
Military Branch
Women's Army Corps
Active Duty Entered
April 3, 1943
1954
Active Duty Exit
1956
Notes
Callie B. Gray lived in Chicago, IL and was separated from her husband Charles Gray when she enlisted in the Army in 1943, according to her record in the National Archives, Access to Archival Databases, and in Ancestry. She was born in Lexington, KY, the daughter of Malessia Biggerstaff and Jerry Chenault. The family is enumerated in the 1910 U.S. Census. By 1920, Callie's mother was married to Horace Hardy, and the family lived in Indianapolis, IN.
That same year on November 13, 1920, Callie had married Charles William Gray. The couple lived in Indianapolis, where their sons were born: Charles Edward Gray on April 13, 1921 and Thomas Buford Gray on April 7, 1922. Callie Gray was employed as a domestic while in Indianapolis.
In 1930, she was separated from her husband and living in Chicago with her mother and then stepfather Jarrett Long. Callie was working as a waitress in a restaurant. The family is enumerated in the 1930 U.S. Census. At some point between 1930 and 1935, Callie's son Charles Edward Gray joined her in Chicago; she and her son are enumerated in the 1940 U.S. Census. A few years after her son moved to Chicago, where he attended college, Callie's mother died on May 31, 1937. Callie Gray had also attended college while in Chicago. In 1943, she joined the military.
Her name was Callie B. Gray when she enlisted; she later remarried. Her name was Callie B. Fisher when she re-enlisted in the military and was deployed overseas for two years during the U.S. occupation of Germany following the end of World War II. Callie Fisher left the U.S. in August 1954 with the group of men and women aboard the USNS General H. F. Hodges. The ship, a Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), sailed from New York to Bremerhaven, Germany. In May 1956, Callie Fisher returned home from Germany, landing in Brooklyn, NY aboard the USNS General Maurice Rose.
Callie Bell Chenault Gray Fisher died in Chicago, IL in January 1985.
Sources: see Callie B. Chenault in the Indiana Select Marriages Index in Ancestry; Charles Edward Gray's Indiana birth certificate, registered #21128 2120 (Ancestry); Thomas Buford Gray's Indiana birth certificate, registered #19808 (Ancestry); Malessia Long in the Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths Index in Ancestry; Callie B. Fisher in the Social Security Death Index in Ancestry; Callie B. Fisher in the Cook County, Illinois Death Index (Ancestry); Callie B. Fisher in the List of Outward-Bound Passengers, List #2, August 9, 1954, U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Services (Ancestry); Callie B. Fisher in the List of In-Bound Passengers, May 18, 1956, U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Services (Ancestry); General H. F. Hodges (AP-144) @ the Naval History and Heritage Command website; History of the USNS General Maurice Rose; and American Occupation of Germany @ Encyclopedia.com.
That same year on November 13, 1920, Callie had married Charles William Gray. The couple lived in Indianapolis, where their sons were born: Charles Edward Gray on April 13, 1921 and Thomas Buford Gray on April 7, 1922. Callie Gray was employed as a domestic while in Indianapolis.
In 1930, she was separated from her husband and living in Chicago with her mother and then stepfather Jarrett Long. Callie was working as a waitress in a restaurant. The family is enumerated in the 1930 U.S. Census. At some point between 1930 and 1935, Callie's son Charles Edward Gray joined her in Chicago; she and her son are enumerated in the 1940 U.S. Census. A few years after her son moved to Chicago, where he attended college, Callie's mother died on May 31, 1937. Callie Gray had also attended college while in Chicago. In 1943, she joined the military.
Her name was Callie B. Gray when she enlisted; she later remarried. Her name was Callie B. Fisher when she re-enlisted in the military and was deployed overseas for two years during the U.S. occupation of Germany following the end of World War II. Callie Fisher left the U.S. in August 1954 with the group of men and women aboard the USNS General H. F. Hodges. The ship, a Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS), sailed from New York to Bremerhaven, Germany. In May 1956, Callie Fisher returned home from Germany, landing in Brooklyn, NY aboard the USNS General Maurice Rose.
Callie Bell Chenault Gray Fisher died in Chicago, IL in January 1985.
Sources: see Callie B. Chenault in the Indiana Select Marriages Index in Ancestry; Charles Edward Gray's Indiana birth certificate, registered #21128 2120 (Ancestry); Thomas Buford Gray's Indiana birth certificate, registered #19808 (Ancestry); Malessia Long in the Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths Index in Ancestry; Callie B. Fisher in the Social Security Death Index in Ancestry; Callie B. Fisher in the Cook County, Illinois Death Index (Ancestry); Callie B. Fisher in the List of Outward-Bound Passengers, List #2, August 9, 1954, U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Services (Ancestry); Callie B. Fisher in the List of In-Bound Passengers, May 18, 1956, U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Services (Ancestry); General H. F. Hodges (AP-144) @ the Naval History and Heritage Command website; History of the USNS General Maurice Rose; and American Occupation of Germany @ Encyclopedia.com.
Kentucky County & Region
Read about Fayette County, Kentucky in Wikipedia.
Kentucky Place (Town or City)
Read about Lexington, Kentucky in Wikipedia.
Item Relations
Cited in this Entry
| NKAA Source: National Archives, Access to Archival Databases (online) |
| NKAA Source: Ancestry (online) |
Related Entries Citing this Entry
| none |
Cite This NKAA Entry:
“Fisher, Callie Bell Chenault Gray,” Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, accessed July 27, 2024, https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/index.php/items/show/300004526.
Last modified: 2023-05-26 16:55:49