Category: 1890-1909 (Born)
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Nellie Grier
c. 1900-1984 Mrs. Nellie Grier, who was known as “Mother Grier” in Newark, founded and directed the senior center on Clinton Ave (now named after her) and organized the Newark Senior Citizens Council. In 1975, she organized the Emmanuel Senior Citizens Center. She said, “Too many older people sit home…just get worse…But when they come…
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Pansy L Borders
1906-1978 Pansy L. Borders (1906-1978) was the first director of Child Guidance for the Newark Board of Ed and served 43 yrs. Pansy worked in nearly every Newark school and wanted to infuse social work into the curriculum. She was one of the early Black teachers in the system, she was one of seven when…
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Eurlee Wright Reeves
Feb 19, 1897 – Feb 1, 1990 Eurlee Reeves (center) was Newark’s only female night club owner in the Swing Era. She founded the Nest Club on Warren St which was a major Black nightclub offering full musical revues in the 1930s and 1940s. She bought the Cabin LaBlanche in 1937 and renamed it. Big…
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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…
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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…
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Louise Epperson
1908-2002 Louise Epperson was key in the protests against UMDNJ in the 1960s & helped negotiate the Medical School Agreements. The Star Ledger stated she was credited with saving the neighborhood from demolition. Louise was also the first African American appointed to the Board of Health & helped elect Mayor Gibson and Irvine Turner. Mayor…
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Katherine Coffey
1900-1972 Katherine Coffey was director of the Newark Museum from 1949-1968. During her tenure she expanded education programs and programs for the visually impaired & apprentice training . The Museum established an endowment Fund in her honor. Katherine was born in New York, graduated Barnard and joined the museum staff in 1925. She was one…
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Camille Sabie Malbrock
1902-1998 Camille Sabie won two gold medals in the 1922 World Games and later became a physical education teacher. Branford theater in Newark hosted Camille Sabie Night. She lived at 182 Jefferson St. At the 1922 World Games, Sabie broke her own world record in the 100-yard hurdles and also won the standing broad jump,…