WSFA12 October 24, 2011 First female graduate of Tuskegee Civilian Pilot program dies at 90 by JoBeth Davis TUSKEGEE, AL (WSFA) - The first African-American female pilot in the state of Alabama, and possibly the south passed away at her home in Tuskegee on Friday. Mildred Hemmons Carter was largely celebrated as the first black female pilot in the state, and possibly the south. According to her biography on Alabamaaviator.com<http://www.alabamaaviator.com/news.asp?record_no=20874>, Carter started as a work-study student at Tuskegee University and graduated with a degree in Business at the age of 19. Carter worked as a clerk at the Tuskegee Army Airfield, and was the first civilian to do so, until she was old enough to train for a pilot's license. Carter trained under Charles Alfred "Chief" Anderson, known as the Father of Black Aviation and was the first woman to earn a pilot's license from Tuskegee Institute's civilian air training school. In 1941, when Carter earned her pilot's license, female pilots were prohibited from flying in combat. Carted signed up to join the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots) group to ferry aircraft for the military. She was rejected due to her race. Carter met and married Tuskegee Airman Herbert E. Carter, who survives her. Together, the Carters are known as the "First Family" of the Tuskegee Airmen. Mildred Hemmons Carter passed away on Friday, October 21 at the age of 90. A public viewing is scheduled for Thursday, October 27 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Peoples Funeral Home in Tuskegee. Her funeral will be held at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Tuskegee at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 28 - it will be open to the public. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Program Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 404.592.4820 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.