Category: Born or raised in Newark (high school or before)
-
Pryno B Hillman
c. 1916-1963 Pryno B. Hillman was founder and president of the Mary McLeod Bethune Social Club, affiliated with the NJ State Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs. Pyrno was an organizer and director of creative and performing arts at Central Avenue Community Center. She was a charter member and first president of the Newark branch of…
-
Sarah Kussy
1870-1956 Sarah Kussy was a prolific Jewish leader. The Jewish News wrote that her death, “is being mourned as a loss to this community of one of its most widely known and beloved leaders. Her contributions to Jewish life were felt on the national, state and local scenes and had continued since before the turn…
-
Marie Anderson Bagby
1925-2003 Marie Bagby (1925-2003) was a teacher starting in 1944, and eventually principal at Barringer, West Side and University High Schools, before retiring in 1991. Marie also served on the board of St. Michael’s Medical Center, the affirmative action committee of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, the executive board of the Newark Principal’s Association,…
-
Delores DeCarlo Alexander
1931-2008 Lesbian feminist writer and reporter Delores Alexander was born in Newark and worked for the Newark Evening News. Later she worked at Newsday, was the first executive director of NOW, and opened a feminist restaurant in New York. Delores was born Delores DeCarlo in Newark in 1931. She lived on Sylvan Ave (1940 and…
-
Golden E. Johnson
1944-2010 Golden Johnson was the first Black woman to serve as a Newark municipal court judge. Her obituary called her “a trailblazer for African American women lawyers in NJ.” She was appointed a judge by Gibson in 1974, at only 30 years old. She said, “I look forward to serving the people of Newark to…
-
Vera Brantley McMillon
1909-1987 Vera McMillon worked for the Public Welfare Department for 37 years retiring as a Supervisor, co-founded Tri City People’s Organization for Progress and a branch of the National Council for Negro Women. She also co-wrote a radio program on NJ Afr. Am. history and worked with the NJ Historical Society to promote African American…
-
Emily Coe Jenkinson
1855-1922 Emily (Coe) Jenkinson (d. 1922) served as president of the Newark YWCA for more than 20 years. The Sunday Call listed her in 1922 as one of 50 people who had done the most for Newark. Emily was born in Newark to George and Mary Coe. The family moved to Fulton, Illinois. Both Emily’s…
-
Gladys St. John Churchman
1902-1974 Gladys Churchman ran the Friendly Neighborhood House as Executive Director from 1945-1967. She was also part of the Churchman Funeral Home family. She was also involved in many other community efforts such as the YMCA and the Newark Preschool Council. She was a member of the Board of Education. Born Gladys St. John, Gladys…