M. Inez Crutchfield

The foundation for the life Mary Inez Gibbs Crutchfield lived was laid when she was born into a family of sharecroppers in rural Watertown, Tennessee. When she was a small child, her biological mother, Mary Kate Smith, and her grandmother recognized and embraced an opportunity to give their smart, kind, and beautiful Mary Inez a better life through the loving sacrifice of allowing her to be adopted by the Gibbs family. The late Dee Gibbs and Bessie Jane Gibbs became Mary Inez’s adopted parents. Mr. Gibbs owned a drycleaning and tailoring business and Mrs. Gibbs was a teacher at the public school for Black children in Lebanon, Tennessee. Mrs. Gibbs met Mary Inez at a school function and immediately recognized the child’s generous and loving personality. Mrs. Gibbs and Mary Inez began a friendship that offered respite from the hardships the birth family endured. Eventually, the Gibbs’ formally adopted Mary Inez. During her formative years, Mary Inez excelled in school and learned the value of hard work, compassion for others, and faith in God. She exhibited a deep love for her parents, both biological and adoptive, and a desire to make them proud. While in high school, she met Carl Crutchfield, a young man who would be the love of her life. In 1943, at 18 years-old and shortly after graduating from high school, she and Carl were married while he was on leave from the military. They were married for 66 years, until his death in 2009. After a brief honeymoon, Carl returned to his military duty and Mary Inez was sent to school at Tennessee A & I State University (now Tennessee State University). Mrs. Crutchfield often said going to college was like getting a new lease on life— she left behind the most unpleasant parts of her early life, carried forward the best parts of her life, and was now Mrs. M. Inez Crutchfield. Mrs. Crutchfield earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in health education in 1947 and 1949, respectively. Later, in 1954, she did post graduate study at Ohio State University. She became a member of the faculty and served as an assistant professor for health education at TSU from 1949 to 1985. She served on numerous departmental and university committees during her tenure. Mrs. Crutchfield was an active member of the university community and a dedicated alumna the rest of her life. An untiring participant in civic and political organizations, Mrs. Crutchfield distinguished herself as a committed, caring woman who worked to make life better for others through community service. Among the service organizations she contributed to were the NAACP, charter member of the Music City Links and National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Leadership Nashville, Arthritis Foundation, Urban League, and the Meharry Medical College Board of Trustees. A member of First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill for more than 70 years, Mrs. Crutchfield was a member of the Sanctuary Choir, Matrons Circle, and the Political Action Committee at the church over the years. She was also a keynote speaker at several local churches. Mrs. Crutchfield was probably best known for her role in local and national politics. She was the first Black woman to become a member of the Democratic Women’s Club of Davidson County. She was also the first Black woman to serve as president of the organization’s executive board. Mrs. Crutchfield was the first African American to hold an appointed and elected statewide position in the Tennessee State Federation of Democratic Women. Her involvement in national politics began when she became the first Black woman to serve as a representative for Tennessee on the Democratic National Committee. She held the elected position of State Democratic Executive Committeewoman for the 19th Senatorial District. She was one of approximately 15 women invited to the White House by former President Jimmy Carter to attend a Minority Briefing on legislation affecting minorities. She also met Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Her civic contributions were recognized with a variety of awards and honors, including: Woman of the Year, National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women; Outstanding Woman in Politics, Nashville Links, Inc. 1980; naming of the Mary Inez Gibbs Crutchfield Room in the TSU Athletic Hall of Fame (1985); The Athena Award, 1994; Academy for Women of Achievement (1994); The Star Award, National Federation of Democratic Women (1994); and Tennessee Women’s Hall of Fame Inductee (2013). In January 2006, the Tennessee Democratic Party and Davidson County Democratic Party honored Mrs. Crutchfield as “one of the individuals who has exemplified the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” by providing leadership for all Tennesseans during the Civil Rights Movement. Beyond the public persona was a wife, mother, grandmother, and warmhearted friend to others. She became a surrogate mother to several young women over the years. She invited these young women to become members of her family while they earned their degrees at TSU. Mary Sue Gooding (Edward) was a cherished surrogate daughter who maintained a close relationship with the Crutchfields long after graduating. Many of these young women became successful professionals in their own right. From humble beginnings in a small town in middle Tennessee to advisor to presidents, Mrs. Crutchfield’s legacy is one of significant accomplishments, service to others, and the grace of God. Most importantly, she is remembered as a loving and devoted wife and the most caring mother any child could have. Those who cherish her memory include her children, Carlton Gibbs Crutchfield (Verda) and Maribeth Janet Crutchfield White (Angelo); daughter-in-law Audrey Wright Crutchfield; three grandchildren, Carl Steven (Carlsie), Chase Gibbs Crutchfield (Ashley Guillory), and Chelsea Renee Inez Russell (Loren); and six great grandchildren Lennox Asher, Davis Maxwell, and Carter Lynette Crutchfield; Aurum Asher Crutchfield; and Kaiden Joel and Colby Gibbs Russell; Long-time friends include Attorney Aubrey Harwell; Dr. Saletta Holloway; Ms. Juanita Buford; The Honorable Howard Gentry Jr.; Dr. Sharon Dixon Gentry; Rev. Edith Kimbrough, Mrs. Clara Elam, and Ms. Marsha Shelton. 

In memory of our beloved mother, please consider a donation to Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D. B. Todd Jr. Blvd., Nashville, 37208