Mildred Jeffrey's mother, Bertha McWilliams, who raised Millie alongside six other children, became Iowa's first female registered pharmacist in 1908 and owned a drugstore in Alton and later in Minneapolis.

After returning veterans resulted in mass postwar layoff of women from factory jobs, she organized the U.A.W.

[3] Jeffrey played a major role in many groups, including the Coalition of Labor Union Women, Emily's List, Americans for Democratic Action, the National Abortion Rights League, the American Civil Liberties Union,[2] the Democratic Socialists of America,[4] and on the peer review board of the Blue Cross.

She was instrumental in advancing the name of Geraldine Ferraro as the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President of the United States in 1984.

Ms. Jeffrey herself held one office, a position on the board of governors of Wayne State University in Detroit.

[6] In 2000, when she was 90, Jeffrey was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, by former President Bill Clinton.

After her death, the United States Senate recognized Jeffrey with a resolution honoring her life and contributions.