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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…
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Elvira Rodrigues
1918-1985 Elvira Rodrigues (left) co-owned Dan’s Friendly Services in Newark with her husband (oil). She was of the East Side High School advisory board and Newark Library board of trustees, as well as the Ironbound Senior Citizens Club and St. Jame’s Hospital Auxiliary .She was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1968. Elvira…
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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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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…
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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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Sophie L Cooper
1912-1971 Sophie L Cooper was Newark’s first elected councilwoman, in the South Ward from 1957-1962. She was appointed unanimously by the Council after the death of her husband in Jan 1957, and then was elected in a special election in Nov 1957, and again in May 1958. After being elected she stated she wanted to…
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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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Bernice Bass
1926-2000 Bernice Bass (right) had a major presence in the city’s music, radio, & political scenes. Bernice had a Sunday evening radio program on WNJR: News & Views playing gospel, commentary and interviews, causing the Star Ledger to call her, “one of the city’s most influential newswoman” upon her death. She interviewed both Martin Luther…