Willie Otey Kay | |
|---|---|
 Kay in 1910 | |
| Born | Willie Virginia Otey March 17, 1894 Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | September 25, 1992 (aged 98) Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Resting place | New Hope Cemetery |
| Education | Shaw University |
| Occupation | dressmaker |
| Spouse | John Walcott Kay (1915–1927; his death) |
| Children | 7 (including June Kay Campbell) |
| Parent(s) | Henry Gaston Otey Josephine Alston |
| Relatives | Bill Campbell (grandson) Ralph Campbell Jr. (grandson) |
Willie Virginia Otey Kay (March 17, 1894 – September 25, 1992) was an African-American dressmaker. She was known for making wedding dresses and debutante gowns for almost sixty years, becoming one of the most sought-after designers for women's formalwear in North Carolina. Kay began her dressmaking business during the Jim Crow Era, catering to both black and white clientele. She dressed young women being presented to society at the all-white North Carolina Debutante Ball and the all-black Alpha Kappa Alpha Debutante Ball, often attending the balls as a guest. In 1935, McCall's did a story on Kay and her work. In 1951, one of Kay's debutante gowns was featured on the cover of Life. Her work was also featured in The News & Observer and, in 2016, the North Carolina Museum of History presented an exhibit on her life. Kay was the mother of civil rights activist June Kay Campbell and the grandmother of politicians Ralph Campbell Jr. and Bill Campbell.
In 2016, the North Carolina Museum of History opened an exhibit on Kay titled Made Especially for You by Willie Kay. Her work has also been exhibited at St. Augustine's University and the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center.