Category: 1910-1929 (Born)
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Modina Boyd Watson
1926-1994 (Davis, Pulley) Modina Boyd was hairdresser, makeup artists, assistant, secretary, stylist and “gal Friday” for Sarah Vaughan who traveled the world with Vaughan from 1950-1960. Modina met Vaughan at Arts High where they became close friends. Later, she was attending Howard but left to work with Vaughan. Vaughan said, “with my secretary, Modina Davis,…
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Elizabeth “Betty” Hoyt Baker Henderson
1912-1999 Elizabeth Henderson, with her husband Dorland, bought and preserved, Newark’s oldest private residence: the Sydenham House. In the house, they lived as in colonial times in many ways, she wove cloth and grew her own vegetables. The couple threw an annual Christmas party and gala Spring party. The Hendersons bought the house in the…
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Bernice Schneiderman Edelcreek
1927-2015 Bernice Edelcreek was a lifelong Newark teacher who said “Newark was the only place I ever really wanted to teach.” Bernice was a physical education teacher and was named Newark’s Teacher of the Year in 1994. She said, “I am particular concerned…with youngsters who are having difficulty accomplishing the skills which are required in…
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Eva Hodgson
1924-2020 Eva Hodgson was an internationally known Bermudian activist, union leader and author (read more here). However, she had an important Newark connection and was in Newark for a significant time period. In 1969, during the first years of Essex County College Ms. Hodgson was coordinator of Black Studies. Essex County was the first public…
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Bessie Lanier Smith
1924-1966 Bessie Lanier Smith was prominent in the Clinton Hill anti-poverty activities with United Community Corporation and as a community leader in Clinton Hill. She was first president of the area UCC leader board for Clinton Hill (Area Board 3) also known as People’s Action Group. Before UCC came to Newark, Bessie and her husband…
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Everane (Eva) Crump Harris
1913-2006 Eva Harris was born in Pleasantdale, NJ but lived in Newark by 1930 and in the Ironbound at 101 Hawkins St by 1950, after her first husband died. She lived in the Ironbound for the rest of her life. Eva Harris was a teacher’s aide at Hawkins Street School for many years. She was…
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Rose A Leonardis
1916-2012 Rose A Leonardis was a lifelong Ironbound resident. She graduated from embalming school in 1950 and was the proprietor of the Rose A. Leonardis Funeral Home on Ferry Street after the death of her father in 1953. Rose ran the funeral home until she retired in 1999. Rose was active in many organizations including…
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Margaret (Peggy) Officer Lista
1913-2013 Margaret (Peggy) was inducted into the Newark Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994 for being a basketball and track standout at Central High in the late 1920s. She also was a cheerleader and dancer. She was president of the Girls Athletic Association. As of 1930, she was the only girl at Central ever to…