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 the National Council for Negro Women. She was also a member of the Newark chapter of United Nations and the Newark NAACP.
Pyrno was born in Georgia but came to Newark as a child and graduated Barringer High, class of 1935 and Essex Junior College. She lived at 104 Peabody Place at the time of her death. She was a member of Mt. Olivet and St. Philip’s Churches. Before that she lived on Delevan Avenue and Boyden Street.
Bibliography
Cummings, Charles, “Meet the Exemplary Women Who Enriched the City” Star Ledger June 6, 2002
Terrell, Stanley, “50 Years of Guiding Black Women” Star Ledger, October 6, 2005.
“Miss Hillman, Club Founder” Newark News May 17, 1963
“Miss Hillman Funeral Rites” Newark News May 18, 1963