Ingram Commends Senate Passage of Memorial Road Naming Legislation, Honoring Brigid Kelly and Peter and Sarah Fossett

This week, state Senator Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati) celebrated the passage of House Bill 81, which makes multiple memorial designations to roads and highways across the state and was amended to include Senate Bill 254 honoring the late Brigid Kelly and Senate Bill 252 honoring Peter and Sarah Fossett.

“This legislation will honor the legacies of three remarkable figures, the late Brigid Kelly and Peter and Sarah Fossett,” said Ingram. “These designations remind us of their contributions to justice, equality, and community. As we drive these routes, we carry forward their values of service, resilience, and progress for a stronger, more inclusive Ohio.”

Senate Bill 254, introduced by Senator Ingram and co-sponsored by Senator Louis Blessing, honors the late Brigid Kelly by renaming the westbound and eastbound lanes of State Route 562, between I-75 and I-71, in Hamilton County—the Norwood Lateral—as the “Brigid Kelly Norwood Lateral.”

Born and raised in Norwood, Ohio, Representative Brigid Kelly dedicated her life to public service. With an educational background from Saint Ursula Academy and Xavier University, she served on Norwood’s city council, represented the UFCW, and was a passionate advocate for workers' rights, fair wages, healthcare, and paid leave. Brigid continued her service as Hamilton County Auditor. Tragically, she passed away in 2024 at age 40, leaving behind a powerful legacy of advocacy for Ohio families.

Senate Bill 252 designates a bridge connecting I-75 and I-74 in Hamilton County as the "Peter and Sarah Fossett Memorial Bridge." The Fossetts, former residents of the now-vanished village of Cumminsville, were prominent abolitionists whose dedication to activism and community leadership has had a lasting impact on Cincinnati.

Peter Fossett, once enslaved at Monticello, became a prominent minister, education advocate, and Civil War hero. Sarah Fossett, a successful hairdresser, and activist, fought for desegregation and supported the Colored Orphanage Asylum. Together, they worked tirelessly for justice and equality.

Peter passed in 1901, believed to be the last surviving slave from Monticello, and Sarah died in 1906. They are buried at Union Baptist Cemetery. The Fossetts were recently inducted into the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame.