essex county commissioners honor local leaders for african american history month

L to R: Comm'r Robert Mercado, Sheriff Amir Jones, Pastor Dr. Carol Patterson, Diane Anglin, Comm'r A'Dorian Murray-Thomas, Diane Colson, Asw. Garnet Hall, Comm'r Romaine Sermons, Comm'r Wayne Richardson, Comm'r VP Tyshammie Cooper, Comm'r Pat Sebold, Comm'r Leonard Luciano, Comm'r Brendan Gill

On Wednesday, February 26, the Essex County Board of County Commissioners held its annual celebration for African American History Month. This event celebrates the accomplishments of and honor outstanding Black and Brown men and women of Essex County for their unique contributions to the Essex community and society as a whole.

This year, the Board recognized Assemblywoman Garnet Hall (LD-28); Essex County Sheriff Amir Jones; Diane Anglin of the Montclair NAACP and Programs for Parents, and Diane Colson of the People’s Organization for Progress.

“On behalf of the Board, we are proud to celebrate these dedicated individuals, especially as some people in power are attempting to undo civil rights progress and rewrite history. Our honorees’ good work is a testament to our resilience and determination to move the needle of our nation toward true liberty for all,” said Commissioner Vice President Tyshammie L. Cooper. “To our honorees, your accomplishments have made each of you great leaders. Against the backdrop of our history, and present day, of racial systemic injustice, we must continue to lift up and empower our communities who have been hurt the most.”

During the occasion, prayers were delivered by the Rev. Dr. Carol Lynn Patterson, Pastor at Old First Presbyterian Church of Newark, and the audience was captivated by the musical talents of the Aurway Ensemble of Newark (www.aurway.org).

See more pictures of the event here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/162EAmecdR/

Watch a recording of the event here: https://essexcountynj.new.swagit.com/videos/336097

Honorees:

Assemblywoman Garnet R. Hall, presented by Commissioner Patricia Sebold, represents New Jersey’s 28th Legislative District. She attended Fairleigh Dickinson University for business administration, and currently serves as Essex County's Deputy Clerk. She is the Vice Chair of the Maplewood Democratic Committee, where she has loyally served for over 15 years, and a member of the Essex County Executive Democratic Committee, representing Maplewood. Garnet has been engaged in campaign organization and strategic planning for dozens of candidates at the local, county, state, and national level. She has also worked tirelessly as a challenger at the polls for her district in Maplewood. As Essex County Deputy Clerk, Garnet executed the "Vote By Mail-In Person Pilot Program” in 2019. In 2022, she continued her strong support of the initiative working with the GOTV teams and personally delivering thousands of VBM applications and ballots to voters throughout the county. Garnet's contagious enthusiasm for inspiring future generations began in her youth when she took her oath as a Girl Scout, coming full circle in her adult life when she became a Girl Scout Leader. She has held membership roles in the Urban League, Operation Push, and various PTAs where she also served as Assembly Program Coordinator at Seth Boyden School. Additional roles include Constituent Outreach for Assemblywoman Mila Jasey, and the public event organization for Governor Cody, Assemblyman John McKeon, and Assemblywoman Jasey. Garnet is a life-long resident of Essex County, born and raised in Montclair. She and her husband George Hall purchased their home in Maplewood 35 years ago, finding a community that embraced their love for togetherness and making a difference in the lives of others. They have two children who are graduates of the South Orange-Maplewood School District, the oldest a registered nurse and the youngest a police officer. They are also the proud grandparents of two wonderful grandchildren, 14 and 7, and a granddog.

Sheriff Amir D. Jones, presented by Commissioner Vice President Tyshammie L. Cooper, is responsible for leading and operating New Jersey’s largest and most active Sheriff’s Department. The Essex County Sheriff’s Office serves the over 850,000 residents of Essex County as well as New Jersey’s largest Superior Court vicinage. A seasoned police executive, Sheriff Jones began his law enforcement career at the Essex County Sheriff’s Office in 2012 and was elected Sheriff in November of 2024.With over a decade of professional experience in investigations, government, and law enforcement, Sheriff Jones’ leadership has resulted in an overall average of a 40% reduction in crime. Additionally, nearly 500 guns and assault rifles have been removed from Essex County communities. He also removed illegal narcotics from the street, totaling nearly $5 million. After serving some time in almost every single sheriff's unit, Sheriff Jones was promoted to the distinguished role of Essex County Undersheriff in 2016. He led day-to-day operations of the Sheriff’s Office Field Operations Division including the Patrol Division, which is responsible for monitoring Essex County municipalities and parks. Additionally, Sheriff Jones oversees New Jersey’s oldest and most active county-wide Bureau of Narcotics. Thousands of drug dealers have been arrested and removed from our communities during his tenure. He also led and oversaw the operations of the Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigations Unit, Tactical Response Team and has served as a Deputy overseeing Emergency Management. Sheriff Jones has compiled a distinguished background outside of his work as Undersheriff and has long been an active member of community organizations including the Essex County Chiefs of Police Association and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. Throughout his career in law enforcement, Sheriff Jones has demonstrated a solid commitment to community-driven, problem-oriented, and intelligence-led policing, as shown through his numerous commendations and awards, including the Medal of Merit and Excellence in Police Duty Awards. A lifelong resident of Essex County, Sheriff Jones resides in East Orange with his wife and children.  

Diane Anglin, presented by Commissioner Brendan W. Gill, is a proud third-generation Montclair native with deep roots in the community. A graduate of Montclair High School, she was a spirited cheerleader who met and later married her high school sweetheart, Kyle Anglin. Together, they have two wonderful sons, Dallas and Denver, along with their beloved furry companion, Diesel. Diane and her family reside in her childhood home, where they continue to share the cherished "Mountie Spirit" with family and friends. Diane earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Virginia State University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Diane’s professional career spans various roles dedicated to service and advocacy, including positions as an Essex County Probation Officer, Substance Abuse Counselor, Senior Director at Kintock Community Corrections Center, and Vice President of REAL House Inc. in Montclair. She now serves as the Assistant to the CEO at Programs for Parents, Inc. in Newark. Beyond her career, Diane is passionate about mentoring young people. Through the Good Success Academies program, she works as a career coach, equipping high school students with entrepreneurial and life skills to help shape their futures. Diane is deeply involved in the Montclair community. She is the President of the Montclair NAACP Branch, a member of the Montclair Section of the National Council of Negro Women, and an active member of Trinity Presbyterian Church. Additionally, she serves as a 3rd Ward Montclair Democratic County Committee District Leader. For Diane, social justice is more than just a cause – it’s a way of life. She remains committed to advocating for equity, opportunity, and empowerment for all.

Diane Colson, presented by Commissioner A’Dorian Murray-Thomas, Diane Colson, the middle child and only daughter of Clara Saunders Colson and Roscoe B. Colson, was born at Doctors Hospital in Newark, and raised between her parents’ home on Princeton St. in East Orange, her maternal grandparents’ home on Hartford St., and Bethany Baptist Church in Newark, where several generations of her family have been active members. At Bethany, Diane has been a member of the New Voices choir, Bowling League, Sunday School, after school tutoring and adult literacy programs. She is a member of the Black History Committee and serves as Church Clerk. Diane attended Washington Elementary, Vernon L. Davey Jr. High, and graduated from East Orange High School, where she was recruited by Director Mel Thompson to be one of 40 students in the third cohort of the Engineering Opportunity Program at Newark College of Engineering (NCE). While at NCE, she became active in the Black Association of Student Engineers. She graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering the same year the school changed its name to the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Decades later she returned to NJIT to participate in a pilot program with three medical schools, eventually graduating with a master’s degree in occupational safety and health engineering. Her first government job was covering and shelving books at the old East Orange Public Library. Over the years, Diane has worked in asbestos management and removal, loss prevention, insurance risk appraisal, construction estimation, project management, sewer collection systems and safety engineering capacities. She has worked with Factory Mutual Insurance Companies, Hamilton Bowser’s Evanbow Construction Company, the City of Plainfield Dept. of Public Works, and AT&T. In 2022, she retired from the West Caldwell campus of the Essex County Schools of Technology. Diane is a co-founder of the Black Engineering and Technology Alumni Association and its Scholars program, a current member of the People’s Organization for Progress and NJIT’s EOP Community Advisory Board, and a former member of the NJ Gospel Music Workshop Mass Choir, the NJ Black Issues Convention Board of Directors, and the East Orange YMCA Board of Managers. Since 2011, she has been an Essex County poll worker, and advocates for voter and civics education. Power to the People!