1941 – 1997
Edna Thomas was a community activist for affordable housing, day care, AIDs patients, and drug treatment, founding a drug treatment program. Councilman Tucker said, “Newark has lost one of its giants. Edna was not a normal person. Every activity I was involved she was there.”
Born Edna Rainey in 1942, Edna lived on Baldwin Street and attended Arts High.
Edna founded Soul-O-House in 1974, a drug treatment program later renamed Essex SOUL. She served as director of the Addiction Planning and Coordinating Agency in Newark.
Edna was a board member of Morton School PTA, president of the Central Ward Coalition of Youth Agencies and President of the Newark Preschool Council Head Start and, earlier, of the Newark Daycare Council. In 1989, she ran for School Board.
Edna was a born member of the Touissant Renewal Corp, which built Georgia King Village. She was an original member of the City Wide Public Housing Tenants Association, a precursor to the Newark Tenants Council. She was also president of the Scudder Homes Tenants Association and worked at the Newark Housing Authority as a community service aide.
Edna was very active in the United Community Corporation, serving as Vice President of Newark Poverty Board 2, and assistant secretary. In 1980, she files suit along with Junius Williams and Ramon Rivera against the City for not providing materials in Spanish for the UCC election, alleging illegal bias.
Edna was on Montclair State College’s Advisory Council on Urban Minority Affairs. She helped found the NJ Black Issues Convention and was a board member at Sympony Hall. She was secretary of the Women’s Committee of 100 for a Better Newark. She was a member of the Essex County Board of Elections. She was also involved in work on a Newark health care plan for the needy in the 1970s, which didn’t materialize.
In 1992 Edna was honored by the Sharpe James Civic Association. In 1995, she received a Malcolm X Award. In 1997, Audrey West, direct of the Newark Preschool Council at the time named the Head Start on South 15th Street in her honor.
Bibliography
Oral history transcript, Krueger Scott, at Charles Cummings NJ Information Center, Newark Library
Walker, Steven, “Edna R Thomas, 55, Newark social activist” Star Ledger Dec 18, 1996
Smith Camilo, “Head Start Center Named in Honor of Community Activist” Star Ledger Jul 3, 1997
Arts High yearbooks 1956 and 1957
1950 Federal Census
Lucas, Caryl, “Soul House a Beacon of Hope for Addicts” Star Ledger July 9, 1984
“Narcotics clinic urged by Spina” Star Ledger Oct 12, 1967
Novellino, Tex “Execs, teachers…” Star Ledger Nov 19, 1967
“Council created for youth” Star Ledger Nov 10, 1968
Terrell, Stanley “200 UCC…” Star Ledger Aug 22, 1969
“Women’s Panel Backs Wheeler” Star Ledger Nov 23, 1969
“Byrd, Hruska…” Star Ledger May 13, 1970
Cahill, Regina “Girl scouts…” Star Ledger Nov 12, 1972
Osterhoudt, Joan, “Addict center launched…” Star Ledger Jun 13, 1974
Whitlow, Joan, “Drug Program strives for ties…” Star Ledger Dec 22, 1974
“Newark tenants enjoy awards dinner dance” Star Ledger Oct 7, 1976
Zarate, Vincent, “Aid cut…” Star Ledger Apr 6, 1978
“Hispanics claim bias” Star Ledger Sept 17, 1980
“Candidates on issues” Star Ledger Mar 20, 1989
“Breakfast with James” Star Ledger Jun 15, 1992
“Malcolm X…” Star Ledger May 19, 1995
Roberts, Reginald, “Program’s founder dedicated heart, soul…” Star Ledger Apr 17, 1997
“Agency Names President” Newark News Nov 3, 1968