A ‘Rosie the Riveter’ from Louisville turns 104

By Elmetra Eichelberger Patterson

Jackson Advocate Guest Writer

Rosie the Riveter represents American women filling  factory and shipyard jobs during World War II. Their motto was “We Can Do It.” 

Their story is much like that of the 6888 Battalion. These African American women served in World War II as soldiers, ensuring massive amounts of mail were delivered to soldiers in England and France. 

However, Rosie the Riveters worked on the home front, assuming many of the jobs the men left behind when they went to serve their country in the war.

Marcella Eichelberger Turnipseed Hubbard was one of the women leaving Louisville, MS and following her brother Lorenzo Eichelberger and brother-in-law Melvin Smith to Sausalito, CA. She worked in the shipyard as a welder. She returned to Louisville, graduating as a teacher  from Mississippi Valley State University, in Itta Bena, MS. 

Hubbard married Rev. B. C. Turnipseed, a civil rights worker, and lived in Laurel, MS until his death. After his death, she moved back to California to work for the Social Security Administration until her retirement.

Hubbard celebrated her 104th birthday with friends and family, including  her four sisters, daughter Angeline West, three granddaughters, six grandchildren, one great granddaughter, one great-great granddaughter, nieces, and nephews. The celebration was held in  Oakland, CA on March 29, 2025 (her birthday is March 28). 

Hubbard graduated from Winston County Training School in 1943. It is believed that she is the oldest living ‘Trojan’. Trojan was the mascot for the Winston County Colored Schools. Her name is on the Blue Trojan Wall at the Eiland Middle School where her nephew Derek Hopkins is the principal.