Anita Mackey

Anita Johnson Mackey (born January 1, 1914) is an American former social worker and supercentenarian, who worked on numerous boards and commissions, in 1953, she became the first African-American supervisor at the VA’s Los Angeles outpatient clinic.

Mackey was born in Riverside, California, The granddaughter of an emancipated slave, Mackey was one of eight children. Her mother died when she was ten so an older sister raised her along with their father.

After she married in 1937, she taught first grade until she attended the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. She graduated in 1941. (her undergraduate degree in speech was from the University of Redlands, class of 1937).

After working for the American Red Cross and then the Veterans Administration, she retired from the VA in 1976. When the VA opened a location in Santa Barbara, California, she moved there in 1964 to work.

She married a Chicago postal worker Harvey A. Mackey in 1937, they did not have children of their own so adopted a 22 year old Nigerian named Alexander Adekanmbi, who would later earn a Phd. and become a college professor and represent his community. Mrs. Mackey, is an active member of her Adventist church and states she is a vegetarian and has never had high blood pressure. She is an extensive world traveller since she was 23, and via her church missions and travels, has visited all seven continents and visited 130 countries.

Some of her awards are the Santa Barbara Council on Social Services Award for Distinguished Service in 1972; Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Andrews University; Honorary Member Delta Kappa.

In 1976 she was awarded Santa Barbara Woman of the Year