Dear Editor:
As we observe Black History Month we would be remiss if the officials and persons of worth within Hudson County were not given the due respect and recognition in the area of being trailblazers and role models for all our residents.
We must recognize the late and great Glenn D. Cunningham who had the distinction of being the first African American mayor of the City of Jersey City. He started his career as a Jersey City police officer retiring at the rank of captain and held many other appointed and elected posts in our city; freeholder, council president, state senator and housing authority official. Glenn was a kind and compassionate human being who always placed people first. His wife, the honorable Senator Sandra Bolden Cunningham started out in the 1960’s participating in the Civil Rights movement and currently represents the 31st Legislative District in our New Jersey State Senate.
There are other individuals who have and continue to display the attributes of ability, courage and integrity for our community, Robert H. Slade, Dr. Phoebe Slade, Addison McLeon, Fred Martin, Cornelius Parker, William Thorton, Harry Massey, Julian Robinson, Daniel Wiley, Sam Jefferson, Rudell Snelling Sr., Rudell Snelling Jr., William Perkins, Willie Flood, Pamela Gardner, Priscilla Gardner, Samuel Scott, Keith Davis, Roger Jones, Doanld Howard, Elnardo Webster, Dejon Morris, Francine Shelton, Jeffrey Dublin, Joseph Charles, Janet Haynes, Michelle Richardson, Charles Epps, Franklin Walker.
This month we lost a valued Hudson County Welfare Division employee, a mother, grandmother, and true compassionate human being, Mrs. Bernice Beatty. She might be gone from us but she is forever in our heart and souls.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert B. Knapp