Audrey Harvey Massiah Harris West
1927-2003
Born Audrey Harvey in Trenton, Audrey attended Howard University and came to Newark in 1958. She worked for the Essex County Welfare Dept and then became Director of the Division of Welfare for Newark after Grace Malone. Audrey then became Director of the NJ State Division of Family Development in the Department of Health and Human Services. Lastly, she was the executive director of the Newark Preschool Council. During her time here she turned around Newark’s Head Start program, culminating in a visit by President Clinton. She was named National Head Start Administrator of the year in 2001.
Gov McGreevey “a woman of incredible intelligence and elegance” who “profoundly changed the lives of countless children and their families”.
Audrey was active in the National Council for Negro Women, Negro Business and Professional Womens Clubs, and NJ Association of Public Administrators. She was a member of the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women in Newark.
Audrey was married to two Newark councilmen Earl Harris (1982) and Calvin West (1993).
Bibliography
Audrey West Celebration of Life, Barbara J Kukla Papers, Newark Library
NJ Marriage Index
“A Life of Service” Star Ledger (Editorial) Mar 29, 2003
Stewart, Nikita, “Audrey West, Elegant and Highly Influential” Mar 20, 2003