Felicia Jamison
A native of Newark, New Jersey and graduate of Arts High School, Dr. Felicia Jamison earned her master’s in human development and a doctorate in educational leadership from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She moved to Morris Township in 1966 and enjoyed a career as an educator, painter, and was dedicated to the furthering of African American youth education.
Jamison worked in the Rockaway School district until 1999 where she sought to create a fully integrated campus comprised of students of all races in pursuit of common academic goals. Her students spoke highly of her teaching style and motivational skills, which many attributed to their college acceptance rate. She took her service to the African American community even further by being a charter member of the Junior Matrons of Morristown, and the president of the group for 11 years. The Junior Matrons of Morristown is a service organization dedicated to furthering educational opportunities for African American youth by raising funds for scholarships to encourage high school students throughout Morris County to attend college. The Junior Matrons organization will be turning 61 this November. Because of her work through the Junior Matrons, Jamison received an award in 1977 from the NAACP.
For 36 years, Jamison led the Morris Area Martin Luther King, Jr celebration before the slain leader was honored with a national holiday, after which point her committee continued holding services in his legacy. Because of this, on Sunday January 16, 2006, she received the “Drum Major for Community Service Award” from the New Jersey Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission at the War Memorial in Trenton for her work towards racial equality and helping young people in the community.