Category: 1930-1959 (Born)

Barbara George

Mar 15, 2022

in 1930-1959 (Born), African Americans, Born or raised in Newark (high school or before), Law and Law Enforcement

c. 1953-2000 Barbara George was the first woman and first African American woman police captain. Sharpe James called her a “trailblazer, role model and…hero”. Barbara was the sister of Gigi Foushee, who also served with the police, one of 7 children. After graduating Weequahic in 1970 and Bloomfield College, she taught science. Barbara joined the…
Trish Morris-Yamba

Mar 14, 2022

in 1930-1959 (Born), African Americans, Education, Museums and Libraries, Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy

1944*-2019 Trish Morris-Yamba was recognized as a visionary in the field of early childhood education, founding the CHEN school and working as director of the Newark Day Center for 32 years. Trish Morris-Yamba was born in New York and attended Rutgers Livingston College. By 1973, she was founding director of the CHEN school for preschool…
Sandra “Sandy” King

Mar 14, 2022

in 1930-1959 (Born), Authors, Journalists and Writers, Born or raised in Newark (high school or before)

1948- Sandy King was the host of Emmy Award Winning Due Process which has won two dozen regional Emmys. She is an award-winning producer and anchor of news, documentaries, and public affairs programs. Sandy King was born in Newark and graduated with the Weeqauhic Class of 1965 and from Rutgers Newark. She began writing articles…
Maria Vizcarrondo-De Soto

Mar 14, 2022

in 1930-1959 (Born), Born or raised in Newark (high school or before), Hispanic/Latino Americans, Politics & Government, Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy

1951- Maria Vizcarrondo-De Soto had many important executive roles in the community. She served as director of ASPIRA for many years, was the first Hispanic elected Essex county official and then was the first woman and Latina President of United Way of Essex and Hudson, for 10 years. She also was the first director of…
Myrna Milan

Mar 14, 2022

in 1930-1959 (Born), Hispanic/Latino Americans, Law and Law Enforcement

1954- Myrna Milan-Rivera Myrna Milan was the first Hispanic Newark municipal judge in 1988 and active with the Puerto Rican Congress and ASPIRA. As a judge, she was well-known for developing alternative sentences for offenders, according to the book Latinas: Hispanic Women in the US. Myrna was born in Hoboken, of Puerto Rican descent, and…
Carole Anderson Graves

Mar 6, 2022

in 1930-1959 (Born), African Americans, Born or raised in Newark (high school or before), Community Activists, Education, Museums and Libraries, Politics & Government

1938- Carol Graves was President of the Newark Teacher’s Union and leader of the 1970/1971 Teachers’ Strikes. She was sentenced to 6 months in jail for her refusal to end the strike. She later ran for General Assembly and served as Essex County Register. Born Carole Anderson, Carole graduated Arts High in 1955. Carole was…
Janyce Jackson Jones

Mar 5, 2022

in 1930-1959 (Born), African Americans, LGBT+, Religious, Social Work, Civic and Philanthropy

1951- Janyce Jackson Jones was co-Pastor of Unity Fellowship Church located in Newark, NJ. Prior to UFC, she served as Pastor of Liberation in Truth Unity Fellowship Church for which she was a founding member in 1995. Janyce was executive Director of the Liberation in Truth Social Justice Center, which provided support, groups, education and…
Gloria Fowles Gaynor

Mar 2, 2022

in 1930-1959 (Born), African Americans, Born or raised in Newark (high school or before), Entertainers, Theater and Music

1943- Gloria Gayner, born Gloria Fowles in Newark, is a singer, whose biggest hit is the 1978 “I Will Survive”. Gloria lived on Howard Street and the Stella Wright Projects as a child and graduated South Side High in 1961. In 1963, she wrote a letter to the Star Ledger in tribute to President Kennedy.…