Many people know Mitch McConnell, but fewer know the full story of his first wife, sherrill redmon. She is not just a name in his past. She is a feminist scholar, a mother of three daughters, and a woman who helped save many stories of other women. In this article, we explore her early life, her marriage, her work, and answer common questions people ask about her today.
Quick Bio of Sherrill Redmon
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Sherrill Redmon |
| Full Name | Sherrill Lynn Redmon |
| Known For | Ex-wife of Mitch McConnell, feminist scholar |
| Date of Birth | 1943 (reported) |
| Approx. Age | About 82 years |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Ph.D. in American History, University of Kentucky |
| Main Role | Director, Sophia Smith Collection of Women’s History |
| Key Project | Voices of Feminism Oral History Project |
| Ex-Husband | Mitch McConnell (married 1968–1980) |
| Children | Eleanor (Elly), Claire, Porter McConnell |
| Political / Social View | Feminist, progressive-leaning family values |
| Current Residence (reported) | Western Massachusetts, USA |
Who is Sherrill Redmon?
The primary keyword for this blog is sherrill redmon, because she is the center of this story. She was born in the 1940s in the United States and later became a historian. Many people first hear of sherrill redmon when they search for facts about Mitch McConnell, but her own life is rich and important on its own.
She is an American woman who studied history and later worked in a university archive. Over time, sherrill redmon became known as a feminist scholar who loved to collect and protect women’s stories. While her ex-husband moved deeper into politics, she moved deeper into the world of research and activism.
Early Life and Education
The early life of sherrill redmon is not fully public. Some records say she was born in 1943, and some say she was born in Louisville, Kentucky, while others list Alabama. What we know is that as a young woman, she was smart, serious, and interested in books and history. She finished high school and then went on to college.
After school, sherrill redmon studied at the University of Louisville and later the University of Kentucky. There she completed a Ph.D. in American history. Her long research work was called “Debunker: The Life and Writings of W. E. Woodward.” This shows how deeply Redmon loved to read, question, and understand past events and ideas.
Wedding and Marriage to Mitch McConnell
Many people search for “wedding sherrill redmon” or “sherrill redmon mcconnell” because they want to know how their story began. The couple met while studying and married in 1968. At that time, Mitch McConnell was a young man at the start of his political dreams, and Redmon was a young scholar who was finishing her studies.
During their marriage, life was busy. sherrill redmon was working in an archive and also building a family. She helped host events, joined parades, and supported her husband’s early political work. People who knew her then remember her as kind, modest, and very focused on both her family and her research.
Children of Sherrill Redmon
The children of sherrill redmon are three daughters: Eleanor (Elly), Claire, and Porter McConnell. These daughters grew up between books, school, and politics. Their mother, sherrill redmon, cared deeply about ideas of justice and fairness, and these values can be seen in the lives of her children today.
The eldest, Elly McConnell, is known for her love of the environment. The middle daughter, Claire, lives a private life. The youngest, Porter McConnell, is a progressive activist who fights against the power of big banks. Many writers say that sherrill redmon raised daughters who share more of her feminist and progressive values than their father’s conservative ideas.
Divorce and New Direction
The marriage between sherrill redmon and Mitch McConnell ended in 1980. They have never shared all the reasons in public, and many stories online are only guesses. What we know is that after the divorce, their paths became very different. He stayed in politics and moved up to become one of the most powerful men in the U.S. Senate.
After the divorce, sherrill redmon left Kentucky and moved to the Northeast. This was a key moment in her life. She shifted from life as a political wife to life as a full-time scholar and archivist. For her, the years after the divorce were not an end but a new start, where she could fully follow her own goals.
Career as a Feminist Scholar
Later, sherrill redmon became director of the Sophia Smith Collection of Women’s History at Smith College in Massachusetts. This archive holds letters, photos, and documents about women’s lives. Her job was not just to keep old papers safe. She worked to bring in more stories from women of color, working-class women, and LGBTQ+ activists.
Under sherrill redmon, the collection became larger and more diverse. She helped lead the Voices of Feminism Oral History Project, which records long interviews with famous and lesser-known feminists. These talks include activists, writers, artists, and community leaders. Through this work, sherrill redmon helped make sure that many women’s voices would not be forgotten.
Link with Gloria Steinem and Feminist Work
One important part of her story is her work with Gloria Steinem, a famous feminist leader. Together they built the Voices of Feminism Oral History Project at Smith College. This project collects personal stories from women who fought for civil rights, birth control, queer rights, and many other causes.
In these interviews, sherrill redmon did quiet but powerful work. She listened, asked questions, and guided women to share their pain, hope, and victories. While her ex-husband shaped laws in Washington, D.C., she was shaping how future generations would understand women’s history.
Is Sherrill Redmon Alive? Age, Health, and Obituary Rumors
Online, people often ask “is sherrill redmon alive?” and even search for “sherrill redmon obituary.” At this time there is no trusted report of her death. Local comments and some online activity suggest that sherrill redmon is still living a quiet life in Massachusetts, likely in a small town in the western part of the state.
When we look at sherrill redmon age, most good sources say she was born in 1943. This would make her in her early eighties today. Some weak websites give a much younger age, but the older date fits better with her years of study and her role as a mother of three in the 1970s. So it is fair to say she is an elderly woman now, enjoying a well-earned retirement.
Is Sherrill Redmon Married Today?
Another common question is, “is sherrill redmon married?” or “who is sherrill redmon married to?” What we know for sure is that she was married to Mitch McConnell from 1968 to 1980. After their divorce, he later married Elaine Chao, who became a U.S. cabinet member. There is no public sign that sherrill redmon married again.
Most careful writers say that she chose to stay single after the divorce. For her, life seems to have centered on her work, her daughters, and her interests, like local history, plants, and her pets. There is no record of a second wedding Redmon had, so we can say she is likely not married now.
Does Sherrill Redmon Have a Wikipedia Page or Big Net Worth?
People also ask about “sherrill redmon wikipedia” and “sherrill redmon net worth.” Right now, there is no separate Wikipedia page only for her. She appears on the page for Mitch McConnell, where she is named as his first wife and a director of a women’s history collection. Any site that looks like a full Wikipedia page for her is not official.
When it comes to money, some small sites guess that sherrill redmon has a net worth of about 2 million dollars. But these sites do not show strong proof. She worked for many years in schools and archives, which usually pay well but not at movie-star levels. It is honest to say we do not know her exact net worth, and any number online is only a guess.
Relationship with Elaine Chao and her Daughters
Many readers are also curious about Elaine Chao, McConnell’s second wife, and how she connects to Redmon. Reports mainly say that the two women live very different lives. Elaine Chao is a public figure in government and business. sherrill redmon is a retired scholar and keeps her life private. There is no clear public link between them beyond their shared past with Mitch McConnell.
What we do see, however, is the strong bond between sherrill redmon and her daughters. Elly, Claire, and Porter McConnell seem close to their mother’s values. Porter’s work against big banks and for social justice shows the deep impact of being raised by a feminist scholar like sherrill redmon. Her family is one of the clearest parts of her legacy.
Life Today and Lasting Legacy
Today, sherrill redmon is believed to live in a quiet town in western Massachusetts. Neighbors and local posts describe someone who loves nature, books, and community life. She also reportedly enjoys time with her cat and shares photos and comments about plants and local sights. Even in retirement, her curiosity and care seem strong.
Her real legacy, though, is in the Sophia Smith Collection and the Voices of Feminism Oral History Project. Thanks to sherrill redmon, many stories of activists, writers, and everyday women are safe for future scholars. While some people know her only as the ex-wife of a powerful senator, her deeper story is about saving women’s voices from silence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Who is Sherrill Redmon?
Sherrill Redmon is a former wife of Mitch McConnell and a feminist scholar who led the Sophia Smith Collection at Smith College.
Q2. Is Sherrill Redmon alive?
Yes, there is no trusted obituary for Sherrill Redmon, and recent reports say she lives a quiet life in western Massachusetts.
Q3. How many children does Sherrill Redmon have?
Sherrill Redmon has three daughters: Eleanor (Elly), Claire, and Porter McConnell, who is a known progressive activist.
Q4. Is Sherrill Redmon married now?
No, after her divorce from Mitch McConnell in 1980, Sherrill Redmon did not remarry and seems to live as a single woman.
Q5. What is Sherrill Redmon known for in her career?
Sherrill Redmon is known for her work as director of the Sophia Smith Collection and for co-creating the Voices of Feminism Oral History Project with Gloria Steinem.
Final Thoughts
The story of sherrill redmon is more than a footnote in someone else’s life. She moved from the world of politics to the world of archives, and she chose to stand with women whose stories were often ignored. Her work has helped students, writers, and activists learn about the past and think about a fairer future.
When we ask who sherrill redmon is, we should not stop at “Mitch McConnell’s first wife.” She is a historian, a feminist, a mother, and a keeper of memory. Her life shows that real power can come not only from public office but also from careful listening, patient research, and the quiet work of saving other people’s stories.
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