Newark has lost a legendary and trailblazing city official. Former Newark City Council President Mildred Crump, who was the first Black woman to serve on the Council, died on Sunday, December 1, 2024. She was 86.
Crump first ran for the Newark City Council in 1986, but was not elected until 1994, initially serving four years. She served again from 2006 until she resigned for health reasons in 2021. I
It was back in 2006 that Mildred Crump became the first woman elected as council president, a position now held by her son, Lawrence Crump.
Mildred Crump, who spent 42 years as a teacher was champion for the arts and literacy in Newark and was a big supporter of the Newark Public Library.
In 2023, Governor Phil Murphy honored Mildred Crump at his annual Black History Month ceremony recognizing she was the first black woman on the Newark City Council.
Mildred Crump was a great friend of WBGO and recently spoke at WBGO’s 45th birthday celebration in Newark. She will be greatly missed.
