Charlotte Louise Berry Winters
Yeoman (F) Second Class, U.S. Naval Reserve

Charlotte Louise Berry was born on 10 November 1897 in Washington, DC, to Mackell and Louise Bild Berry.

When the Navy opened support roles to women, Charlotte and her sister, Sophie, joined in 1917. She served from 1917 to 1919 at the Naval Gun Factory in the Washington Navy Yard as a clerk. By December 1918, more than 11,000 women had enlisted and were serving in support positions. In 1919, most of the Yeoman (F) were released from the service. At that time, she had attained the rank of Yeoman (F) Second Class in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Winters was able to return to the same position as a civil servant. Winters served as a secretary and retired in 1953.

Winters helped to found the National Yeoman (F) Association in 1926 and served as its eighth Commander in 1940 and 1941. She was active in the American Legion for 88 years.

Death and Burial

Yeoman (F) Second Class Charlotte Louise Berry Winters died on 27 March 2007 in Boonsboro, MD, at age 109. She was the last surviving female American veteran of World War I. She was buried with full military honors at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, MD.

At the time of her death, only two living World War I female veterans were left in the world: then-108-year-old Gladys Powers and 107-year-old Ivy Campany, who served for the United Kingdom.