19 Facts About Joyce Dinkins

Joyce Dinkins was the first lady of New York City from 1990 to 1993, becoming the city's first African American first lady in history.

Joyce Dinkins was one of her family's two daughters, along with her older sister, Gloria.

Joyce Dinkins's mother, Elaine Burrows, was a businesswoman, while her father, Daniel L Burrows, was a liquor store owner and real estate broker.

Joyce Dinkins's family moved from Manhattan to Yonkers, New York, when she was an elementary school student, but quickly moved back to Harlem approximately one year later due to racial discrimination in Yonkers.

Joyce Dinkins was first elected as a Democratic district leader in Manhattan, before being elected to the New York State Assembly in 1939.

Joyce Dinkins Burrows graduated from George Washington High School in Washington Heights.

Joyce Dinkins then attended Howard University in Washington DC, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology in 1953.

At Howard, Joyce Dinkins joined Delta Sigma Theta sorority and became the Homecoming Queen.

Back in New York, Joyce Dinkins initially planned to become a social worker, but deferred her career plans once her children, David N Dinkins Jr.

Joyce Dinkins cared for her mother, who had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Joyce Dinkins actively campaigned for her husband during his campaigns for Manhattan Borough President and Mayor of New York City in the 1980s.

Joyce Dinkins served as First Lady of New York City from 1990 until 1993 during Mayor Dinkins' single term in office.

Additionally, Joyce Dinkins was the city's first mayor's wife and First Lady since Mary Beame left the position in 1978, as David Dinkins' predecessor, Ed Koch, was a lifelong bachelor.

Joyce Dinkins created the "Reading Is Recreation" literacy initiative for public school students in 1990.

Joyce Dinkins headed a city-wide, multimedia public service campaign called "The First Day Back to School".

Mayor Dinkins lost re-election in 1993 and left office after one term, but Joyce Dinkins remained active in civic and educational organizations.

Joyce Dinkins joined the board of directors of WNET, the New York Urban League, Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, the Historic House Trust, and the Early Stages Theater.

Joyce Dinkins died at her home in the Lenox Hill neighborhood of the Upper East Side, Manhattan, on October 10,2020, at the age of 89.

The Joyce Dinkins were longtime members of the Church of the Intercession, an Episcopal church in Upper Manhattan.