She was born in North Carolina and came from a family of inventors. Her father, who she credited for her initial interest in discovery, was Sidney Nathaniel Davidson. In her lifetime, he patented a clothing press which would fit in suitcases, though he ultimately made no money on the invention. Her father also patented a window washer for trains and invented a stretcher with wheels for ambulances. Her grandfather invented a light signal for trains, though this invention was stolen from him. Her sister, Mildred Davidson Austin Smith invented and commercially sold board games. Kenner graduated from high school in 1931. She attended Howard University, although she was unable to finish due to financial difficulties.
Inventions
She invented an adjustable sanitary belt with an inbuilt, moisture-proof napkin pocket. In 1956, she was finally able to save up enough money to get her first patent on it. However, the company that first showed interest in her invention, the Sonn-Nap-Pack Company, rejected it after they discovered that she was African American. Kenner never made any money off of the sanitary belt, because her patent expired and became public domain, allowing it to be manufactured freely. Between 1956 and 1987 she received five total patents for her household and personal item creations. She shared the patent on the toilet tissue holder with her sister, Mildred Davidson. The toilet tissue holder was created to be more accessible for blind individuals and people with arthritis. The patent number was, dated October 19, 1982. She also held a patent on a back washer that could be mounted on the shower or bathtub wall. This invention was patented in 1987 patent number 4696068. She also patented the carrier attachment for a walker in 1959, after Mildred developed multiple sclerosis.
Personal Life
Mary Kenner worked as a professional floral arranger and had four flower shops scattered around the Washington DC area. She worked in her stores for a total of 23 years. Kenner was married to a renowned heavyweight boxer named Jack "Jabbo" Johnson. Together, they lived in McLean, Virginia, near the Kennedy's complex. They were foster parents to five boys.
