1919-2007
Grace Gregory owned Poro Beauty Shop on West Market in the 1940s-1950s. She was also a certified Notary Public.
In 1983, she founded “Guiding Light Inc.” (originally Caring and Sharing) a tutoring and counseling agency. She said “We want to help people develop a ‘road of life’ plan…We want to help the children and we want to help the parents.”
Grace also had a 40-year career in government, she was a housing counselor for HUD’s Newark office and later was in charge of training others. She previously worked in the Army and Navy departments, and the VA Hospital in Orange.
Grace also served as organist and pianist for many local churches.
Grace was a 1938 Barringer graduate, and attended Newark public schools. In 1935, she submitted a poem to the Afro American. She attended Rutgers and Trenton State. She was the recipient of many awards for her work. She lived at 226 Parker Street when she graduated Barringer and still lived there in the 1980s.
Bibliography
“A Dream Comes True for a Woman who Cares” Star Ledger Oct 3, 1983
“Grace L Gregory, Housing Counselor, 88” Star Ledger Mar 9, 2007
Newark Library Digital Collections 1 2
Gibson, Bill “Hear Me Talking Ya” Afro American Oct 5, 1935
Bailey, Edna “Hud Consumer Forum” Star Ledger Apr 8, 1980