Black History Month: Daughter shares late mother’s story of becoming first Black female firefighter in MKE

MILWAUKEE — Almost one month since her mother handed away from most cancers, Ny-Keisha Easley discovered consolation in wanting again on the pictures that inform the unimaginable story of her mom, Valerie Woodard.

“​I actually had an superior mother​,” mentioned Easley.

Easley says when she was younger, Woodard moved from Indiana to Milwaukee together with her and her older brother after she misplaced her job. She began working at Goal however was barely getting by.

“​She was making an attempt to make ends meet​,” mentioned Easley.

It wasn’t till one in all Woodard’s sisters informed her that the Milwaukee Fireplace Division was searching for recruits, that she determined to attempt to be part of in an effort to create a greater life for her youngsters.

“​She was like hey, the sky is the restrict, let me attempt it​.”

After bodily getting ready herself on the YMCA, Woodard utilized and joined the fireplace academy the place Easley says her mother endured racism and discrimination all through her coaching.

“It was like a two-headed sword as a result of not solely was she black, she was a girl. They’d simply say racist phrases or name her completely different names,” mentioned Easley. “She talked about how they’d do additional challenges for her. They have been making an attempt to make it onerous for her to stop.”

However she was resilient. And on Could 30 1986 at 27 years outdated, Woodard graduated from the academy and have become the primary black feminine firefighter within the metropolis of Milwaukee.

“She made a distinction and he or she paved the way in which for different minority firefighters,” mentioned Easley.

After the academy, Woodard was assigned to Milwaukee Fireplace Station 32 Ladder 9. Easley says her mother cherished her job regardless of nonetheless dealing with some discrimination from the group.

“​She informed me a few story the place she went inside any individual’s home and all of her teammates went in and the girl mentioned no she will be able to’t are available in. The captain on the time was like properly if she would not are available in all of us do not are available in.”

After 16 years of service, Woodard retired from the division in 2002. She moved to Texas the place she continued to stay till she was recognized with stage three pancreatic most cancers in 2020.

“​Even in direction of the top, she was a fighter,” mentioned Easley.

On Jan. 4, 2023, simply days after her sixty fifth birthday, Woodard died. Now, Easley has taken it upon herself to proceed to share her mom’s story and educate the world in regards to the trailblazer of a girl that Woodard was.

“​She was a really humble woman, that is why you did not hear a lot about her. However now, I would like all people to know that she was the primary black feminine firefighter in Milwaukee Wisconsin and I wish to inform her story.”

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