Local Leader Honored with Plaza Name

The intersection of Newark's South 14th Street and 14th Avenue has received a new name.

The cross street, which straddles the West and Central wards, has been renamed Rica Beatty Jenkins Plaza after the beloved community leader who died on Feb. 16 this year at the age of 68. Jenkins, who was known as "Nana," was honored for her generosity to residents and loyalty to her neighborhood which surrounds the plaza named after her.

"She was honestly the mayor of this block. She lived here for 40 years," said her niece, Toni Gregory, who is nicknamed "Little Rica."

Gregory said Jenkins was a longtime district leader in the neighborhood and a retired Newark special education teacher at the time of her death.

As a community leader, Jenkins organized book bag drives, trips to the circus and skating rinks, turkey drives, Christmas toy donations, and threw block parties, according to family and friends. She even walked up to every house in the neighborhood and encouraged people to vote on election days as well.

Last Saturday, local residents gathered to see Council President Donald Payne Jr., Councilwoman Mildred Crump, and Central Ward Councilman Darrin Sharif mark the plaza renaming in a ceremony. A street sign bearing Jenkins' name was installed.

Two of her sisters spoke to Patch and expressed how thrilled they were with the plaza.

"We are honored, very honored to have a street named after her in our hometown," said Pearl Beatty, a former Essex County Freeholder and sister of Jenkins. "The whole family is honored."

"I think it's wonderful. It's a blessing and we are happy to be part of it," said Alma Beatty, Jenkins' sister.

The plaza renaming was capped with a block party featuring bouncy castles, a Newark fire truck, volleyball, basketball, a dance contest, and BBQ as Jenkins' relatives and friends, many of them wearing T-shirts bearing her name, reminisced.

"She was Nana to everybody," said Gregory, who is trying to follow in Jenkins' footsteps.

Eric Savage, a family friend, proudly wore a T-shirt at the party bearing Jenkins' picture.

"No matter what we done, she took care of us," he said about her generous, non-judgemental personality. "She did everything. You name it — it will never stop. You can keep going," he said about all the good deeds she performed in the neighborhood.

Her sons Raymond and Russell Jenkins and their families traveled respectively from Florida and Virginia for the event.

"It's a beautiful," said Raymond Jenkins about the gathering.

"She was important," said Carolyn Jenkins, Raymond Jenkins' wife. "She made a mark and a big difference," she said pointing to the block party.

"I love her," Carolyn Jenkins said. "She's gone but won't be forgotten."