Monroe, North Carolina (May 17,1902- January 13, 2006) 93 yrs

Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner was an African American inventor who revolutionized menstrual hygiene with her adjustable sanitary belt, patented in 1956. At age six Kenner tried to create a self oiling door hinge because every morning she heard the squeak of the front door.  Kenner designed the sanitary belt in the 1920s however could not afford to apply for a patent. She filed for a patent in 1954, and it was approved in 1956. Despite facing racial discrimination that cost her licensing deals, she earned five patents—then the most for a Black woman—including designs for a walker with a tray, a toilet paper holder, and a mounted back washer—solving everyday personal care and accessibility challenges.