Laura Trimmings
June 6, 1938 - May 19, 2015

Students and faculty of Cicely Tyson Middle and High School in East Orange celebrated the life of former Principal Laura Trimmings, who passed on, 05/19/2015. A Wake Service was held on Wednesday, May 27th, at 11:00 AM at at Israel Memorial A.M.E. Church, 54 Lincoln Street in Newark.

Mrs. Trimmings always had the capacity to reach children where they were and to push them to her high standards. During her tenure in the East Orange School District, she served in various capacities - as a classroom teacher for fifteen years, first at Rutlege Avenue School, then at the Hart Educational Complex, and finally at Clifford J. Scott High School. She always had a passion for guiding young people in a classroom setting, so they might discover their own genius and garner the skills necessary to become upstanding and productive citizens. As a result, she felt that her level of influence would be more profound and would reach more children if she became an administrator. Her brilliance and skills as an educator earned her an appointment in 1984 as the Assistant Principal of Clifford J. Scott High School (currently S.T.E.M. Academy).

In 1987, Mrs. Trimmings was named Principal of the Vernon L. Davey Middle School. It was there that she made her indelible mark on the education system and the community at large. Laura Trimmings always stayed relevant to the needs of her students and the shifts in education. She pioneered the District in the renaming of schools to fit a Unique School model. As a lifetime supporter and lover of the arts, her Unique Schools of Choice was easy, and on November 5, 1995, Mrs. Trimmings meticulously orchestrated the name change from Vernon L. Davey to The Cicely Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts.... and the rest is truly History.

In 2005, ground was broken for a new building to replace East Orange High School and Vernon L. Davey Middle School, and to be named the Cicely L.Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts. The story of that building from start (2005) to finish (2009) is told HERE.

Photos of Laura and members of her family at the Dedication of the NEW Cicely L. Tyson Community School of Performing and Fine Arts, held on October 24, 2009, can be found HERE.

In 2010 Mrs. Trimmings retired from the East Orange School District after serving 41 years. In honor of her dedication and contributions to the City of East Orange and the East Orange School District, Winans Street was renamed “LauraTrimmings Way”. The photo at the left was taken June 22, 2010, during the renaming of Winans street. Left to right: Laura Trimmings, Cicely Tyson, Willita Trimmings, daughter. Back row: Mr. George Trimmings, husband.

From the Newark Star Ledger, May 26, 2015

Beloved wife, devoted mother Laura White Trimmings, 76, made her transition on May 19, 2015. The celebration of her life will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Israel Memorial A.M.E. Church, 54 Lincoln St., Newark, N.J. Interment is in Glendale Cemetery, Bloomfield, N.J. Visitation was Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the church. The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority service commenced at 6:30 p.m. Arrangements are by Whigham Funeral Home.

Born in Apalachicola, FL, Mrs. Trimmings was a resident of East Orange, N.J. She was the beloved wife of George Trimmings Jr.; devoted mother of Willita E. Trimmings and George Trimmings III (Denina); dear daughter of the late Stanley Franklin White and the late Willie Zeigler White; loving sister of Evageline W. Tolliver, Zeigler O. White (Yvonne) and Stanley Zeigler White (Chance Kirkwood); and cherished grandmother of Tavian Beane, Jaden Francis, Janah Thomas, Sarai L. and Zarielle L. Trimmings. She is also survived by a host of relatives and friends.

If any family, friends, students or faculty want to share information, photos or memories of Laura to celebrate her life, you can e-mail them to [email protected] and we will see that they get added to this page.

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