S. Edward Davis was not originally from Woodbury but certainly made his mark here starting in the 1930's when he became the organist-director of the Bethel AME Church Choir on Carpenter Street. In 1936, Davis created the Woodbury Choral Society to initiate a scholarship fund for worthy needy students and to make a cultural contribution to the community. He was also the first and only Black Field commissioner of the Gloucester county Scout Organization and organized the first troops in Jericho, Pennsgrove, Glassboro, and Woodbury. He served as the Assistant District Council commissioner for the Gloucester County Boy Scouts and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Woodbury rotary Club.
On June 18, 2016 the city of Woodbury along with the Afro-American Project unveiled a plaque in honor of Henry Dickerson (1794-1877). Dickerson was an African Methodist Episcopal (AME0 minister, landowner, civic leader and patriot. He lived with his family on a farm in N. Woodbury. In 1862 he leased some of his land in S. Woodbury to the Union Army for a Civil War training camp (Camp Stockton) for the 12th Regiment, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. The plaque is displayed on Broad Street near the corner of Barber Avenue, in front of the Woodbury Police Station parking lot.
Corporal Hugh Victor Browne II, a Woodbury native, was one of the first Black US Marines from New Jersey to break the color barrier in 1943. He received the Congressional Gold Medal for serving with the Montford Point Marines. Brown was also the co-founder of the Woodbury summer basketball league.
Another famous Woodbury native is actor, Roscoe Lee Browne (1922-2007). You may remember him from his guest role on "All in the Family" as a snobbish black lawyer trapped in an elevator with Archie Bunker or as butler
Sanders in the comedy "Soap". In 1986, he won an Emmy for his guest role as Professor Foster on "The
Cosby Show." In 1983 Browne returned to Woodbury to be inducted in the Gloucester County Sports Hall of Fame for his accomplishments on the track field.
Honorable Elliott Graythron Heard, Jr resided in Woodbury and became the first black attorney in Woodbury. He worked for Charles Camp Cotton, Esq. In 1984 he was sworn in as the first Black Superior Court Judge in Gloucester County. Heard was also an active member at the Woodbury AME Church.
Jadie Barringer, Jr. was the first African American elected to Woodbury's City Council and his sister, Gwendolyn J. Brown was the first African-American woman elected to Woodbury's City Council serving the City for18 years.
Bryant McKinnie, graduated from Woodbury High School in 1997 and went on to become a pro-football player. He played nine seasons for the Minnesota Vikings and in 2011 moved to the Baltimore Ravens where he had the opportunity to play on the winning team in SuperBowl 47. He also played on the Miami Dolphis. McKinnie was twice recognized as an All-American at the University of Miami.
Correction to last week's opening photo: The photograph of the Red Bank Burial Ground Dedication was actually taken on June 27, 2014 not 2017.
