1906-2001
Mary Beasley Burch founded the Leaguers non-profit focused on the development of African American youth & was the first African American woman to serve on the Newark Board of Ed. & NJ State Parole Board. She was on the board of Essex County College and contributed to its founding. The theater at ECC is named in her honor.
Her funeral program said, “her spirit was awe-inspiring, her wit hard to match and her oratory skills made her a Sojourner Truth of her time – ‘Ma’ Burch served as the role model and standard for so many women of color”.
Bibliography
Digitized material incl. resume and funeral program
Star Ledger including “Mary Burch, 95, Newark visionary”, Star Ledger Aug 16, 2001
Newark Women 