Anna Mae Robertson, a Milwaukee icon and one of the last living members of the famous all-Black and all-female 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, known as the "Six Triple Eight," died at age 101, her family told 12 News on Saturday, June 7, 2025. 

Robertson was born in Arkansas and joined the Women's Army Corps when she was only 19 years old, during World War II. She was put in charge of the 6888th, which did something that had never been done before: it sorted through 17 million pieces of backlogged mail in just three months to boost the spirits of U.S. troops stationed overseas. 

It took decades for people to notice. In April 2025, Congress gave the whole battalion the Congressional Gold Medal, which is the highest civilian honor in the country. 

Robertson's work also made it to the big screen: Tyler Perry's 2024 Netflix movie "The Six Triple Eight" told the group's story, and actress Kerry Washington, who played Lt. Col. Charity Adams, went to see Robertson in Milwaukee. 

Congresswoman Gwen Moore, who is from Philadelphia and represents Milwaukee, praised Robertson's service and honored her by pushing for the medal legislation. Moore said in a statement she was "thankful that Ms. Robertson was able to get her flowers while she could still smell them."  

She said, "I join our community in mourning her loss and remembering her pioneering legacy."

On Saturday, June 7, at Tabernacle Community Baptist Church, there was a community celebration of life. The visitation started at 9:30 a.m. and the service started at 11:30 a.m. 

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson called Robertson's life and legacy "an inspiration" and asked others to follow her lead in making communities better. 

"You need people to stand up and work through those problems to make our city, state, and country better. That's exactly what Anna Mae Robertson did."