08/22/2026
We recently had the incredible honor of sitting down for an interview with Mary Young Gilliam, a remarkable woman who has lived 100 years, and whose story takes us all the way back to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, during World War II.
At just 18 years old, Mary went to Oak Ridge to serve her country as one of the Calutron Girls, the young women who operated the massive calutron equipment at the Y-12 facility as part of the Manhattan Project.
Imagine being 18 years old, working behind the fences of a secret city, not knowing that the work you were doing would become part of American history.
A century later, Mary can still tell those stories.
As we listened to her talk about Oak Ridge, her work, her life, her family, and the memories she carried with her through the decades, I couldn’t help but think about how many pieces of history are living inside the people around us.
This is why we tell stories.
Not just to remember the past, but to make sure the people who lived it are never forgotten.
Our conversation with Mary was one of those interviews that stays with you long after the camera stops rolling.
100 years of life.
A young woman who helped make history.
And a story worth remembering.
Photo and story rights are retained by the Gilliam family. Shared and published with their permission. Please respect the family’s ownership of these photographs and their story.
