The Greater Miami Valley Ohio Chapter and the Central & Southern Ohio Region of the American Red Cross pays tribute to Dayton Ohio’s own Charity Adams Earley. Mrs. Earley’s service in World War II was recently brought to life by Emmy award-winning actress Kerry Washington in the Tyler Perry film The Six Triple Eight.  

Beyond Mrs. Earley’s distinguished military career, she was a dynamic volunteer with the American Red Cross both at the chapter and national levels. “Outside of my family, the Red Cross is one of the main things I’ve kept up with all these years,” Earley said in an interview recorded in her Dayton, Ohio home in 2000.

After a history of volunteering which started when she was 12 years old, the Wilberforce University graduate served as the Dayton chapter board chair beginning in 1965.  She later went on to serve two terms on the American Red Cross National Board of Governors.

Two years before her death in 2002, Mrs. Earley sat down for this interview where she talked about her struggles and successes in life.  As we celebrate Women’s History Month, please click here and listen as Mrs. Early shares an honest accounting of her trailblazing time with the American Red Cross.