Susan B. Kellom, Alexandria Civic Leader and Army Veteran, Dies

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Susan B. Kellom, a longtime Alexandria resident, Army veteran, and devoted civic leader whose decades of service helped shape the city’s political and community landscape, died yesterday morning.

Kellom dedicated much of her life to public service, both in uniform and in her adopted hometown. She served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1980 as a military police officer and was among the first women selected for the Military Police Advanced Course. It was during her service in Seoul in 1971 that she met her husband, Ben Kellom.

“We were both on active duty at the time,” she later recalled.

The couple married in 1974. In 1978, Ben Kellom was transferred to the military personnel center in Arlington, bringing them to Northern Virginia. They initially lived in Burke before moving to Alexandria in 1983, a community Kellom would serve tirelessly for the rest of her life.

Kellom’s civic involvement spanned decades and touched nearly every corner of public life. She was a member of the Alexandria Commission for Women from 1997 to 2013 and later served on the board of the Friends of the Alexandria Commission for Women. She also served on the Alexandria Youth Policy Commission from 1997 to 2003 and was a longtime member of the Alexandria Human Rights Commission, including two terms as chair.

Her commitment extended into electoral politics, where she became a central figure in local Democratic organizing. Kellom served as chair of the Alexandria Democratic Committee from 1999 to 2010, organizing voter forums, debates, and outreach efforts, and mentoring a generation of local leaders. In 2012, she was appointed chair of the Alexandria Electoral Board, overseeing the city’s registrar’s office and electoral process. She also served as Public Information Officer for 12 years and later as vice chair for Finance and Administration for the Democratic Party of Virginia. That same year, she received the Tom Whipple Party Service Award in recognition of her leadership and mentorship.

Beyond titles and roles, Kellom was known for her deep personal commitment to others. If someone in the community was in need, she organized support—meals, rides, errands, and check-ins—quietly building networks of care that touched countless lives.

Kellom’s impact left a lasting impression on colleagues, friends, and community members throughout Alexandria.

Former Mayor Justin Wilson remembered her as “a force of nature paired with a wicked sense of humor,” adding that she “served our nation in uniform and our community in so many ways, big and small.”

Craig Fifer recalled how Kellom welcomed him into Alexandria’s political circles when he arrived in 2003, introducing him to key leaders and helping make his transition seamless. “I consider Susan a political mentor,” he said. “She was a fierce defender of causes and people.”

Alexandria City Councilwoman Jacinta Greene highlighted Kellom’s influence on women in leadership. “Susan was a force in Alexandria politics and advocacy for women’s rights,” she said. “I am forever grateful for her empowering me to lead, her unwavering support, and for being an amazing friend.”

Across the community, tributes echoed a consistent theme: Kellom’s unwavering sense of justice, her generosity, and her determination to lift others up.

In her personal life, Kellom was devoted to her family. She and her husband Ben shared a long partnership that began during their military service and continued through decades of civic engagement and community life. Friends noted that after Ben’s death in 2021, Kellom continued her work and remained active in the community she loved.

Susan B. Kellom is remembered as a leader, mentor, advocate, and friend—someone whose influence will continue to be felt across Alexandria for years to come.

Details about funeral and memorial services will be announced as they become available.