By Marion Filler
In 1959, a dozen young African American women led by Sue Wilson Graddick decided to form the Junior Matrons of Morristown.
The idea was to be more than just a social group.
“We wanted to be a service club,” recalled Felicia Jamison, a founding member and president for 11 years.
The women adopted the motto “Service Through Scholarship,” and raised funds to encourage deserving high school students throughout Morris County to attend college.
Sixty years later, the mission continues with a Champagne Brunch and Fashion Show at the Birchwood Manor, on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019.
Harriet Britt, another of the original Junior Matrons, has known Jamison for approximately 65 years. Both moved to Morristown in the mid 1950s–Britt from Shelby, NC, and Jamison from Newark.
“The first fundraiser we had was glass blowing in the Neighborhood House,” Britt said.
Another memorable event was an appearance by the Harlem Globetrotters at the Morristown Armory. Jamison and Britt, both octogenarians, were not quite sure of the date, but Britt had no trouble remembering how “they picked me up and I put the ball in the basket.”
The Junior Matrons’ first student stipends were $25. Now, scholarships range to $7,000. The largest is named for Craddick.
Of the 12 founders, five have passed away and one has moved to Arizona. New members have replaced the old, with a mission that remains relevant.
“Why? Because the need is still there,” said Jamison. “More and more young people are going to college and they need assistance. We were the first ones to start and now there are many groups and organizations doing the same thing and we work closely with them.”
Raffle tickets always were a good source of income as well; Jamison dubbed Britt “Queen of ticket sellers.” Britt remembers being on the job from 9:30 in the morning to 4 in the afternoon.
“I would sell my raffle book in stores around town. I would just ask them to buy and they did.”
Although Jamison will attend the Fashion Show, Britt regrets that she will miss it. As the last survivor of four sisters and five brothers, she plans a visit to Kannapolis, NC, to visit nieces and nephews she has not seen for 30 years.
Jamison has had a significant presence in Morristown’s African American community over the years.
She spearheaded the annual MLK Day observance, and although the walls of her home are covered with plaques of recognition and countless awards, Jamison preferred to emphasize her work with Ruth Vogler on the Morris County Fair Housing Council, reflecting her primary interests of education and social justice.
Jamison earned degrees from Rutgers and Fairleigh Dickinson, where her doctoral dissertation focused on the merger of Morristown- and Morris Township schools.
“In order to have integrated schools you have to have integrated housing,” she said, adding that “it takes the total community to change anything. It happened because there are good people on both sides. Just think, for years and years it didn’t happen and now it did.”
The Champagne Brunch and Fashion Show runs from 11 am to 3 pm at the Birchwood Manor, 111 North Jefferson Road, in Whippany.
It will feature men’s and women’s styles. Organizer Jeannie McKay, representative for the Matrons’ District #3 in Morris Township, modeled in the show a few years ago, and managed to garner participation by boxer Al “Ice” Cole, playwright Shaheed Shaheed, and commentator Kyle “The Voice” Abercrombie.
The clothing comes from D1124, a boutique in Philadelphia owned by McKay’s former college roommate, Dawnell Moore-Exil, and is designed by Vernest Moore. Tickets are $60. Reservations are not required.
