Alice E. Bunce
(1893–1970)

Born in July 1893 in Riverhead, New York, Alice Emmaline Bunce was a woman ahead of her time. The daughter of Clarence and Bettie Bunce, Alice grew up in Southampton alongside her siblings in a household grounded in discipline, education, and civic pride. In 1912, she became the first African American graduate of Riverhead High School in Brooklyn, an early indication of her resilience and academic determination.

Alice pursued her passion for science and service by entering the New Jersey College of Pharmacy, now part of Rutgers University. Upon earning her degree, she became the first African American woman to graduate from the institution—an extraordinary accomplishment for an African American woman in the early 20th century. She was also among the earliest women of color licensed to practice pharmacy in New Jersey.

In 1923, Alice joined forces with her brother-in-law, Richard B. Carter, Sr.—grandfather of Renee Carter—to open Bunce & Carter Pharmacy on Springwood Avenue in Asbury Park. Their partnership produced what became known as the oldest black-owned pharmacy in Monmouth County. After initially operating at 1036 Springwood Avenue, they moved across the street in 1937 to 1045 Springwood Avenue. Together, they served their community with dedication and dignity for nearly five decades.

Alice was known not only for her scientific knowledge but also for her compassionate care and commitment to community service. She was a respected member of the Monmouth and Ocean County Pharmaceutical Association and a faithful member of the St. Augustine Protestant Episcopal Church. She remained actively engaged in civic and religious life, inspiring those around her through her example.

In the summer of 1970, a wave of looting swept down Springwood Avenue in Asbury Park, devastating the heart of the city’s black business district. Among the many establishments targeted was Bunce & Carter Pharmacy, which suffered over $30,000 in losses. The destruction was not limited to Black-owned businesses—Berkowsky's West Side Drug, a white-owned pharmacy located farther up the street, was also looted. Authorities believed the culprits were searching for narcotics, indiscriminately targeting pharmacies in their pursuit. For Alice Bunce, witnessing her life’s work demolished in a single night was a heartbreaking and irreparable loss.

Though she held her composure in public, the trauma weighed heavily on her. Decades of dedication, sacrifice, and community service had been swept away in an instant. The emotional toll proved too great, and within a few short weeks, Alice passed away in July 1970 at the age of 76. Her brother-in-law and business partner, Richard B. Carter, Sr., died just four months later. Their passing marked not only the end of Bunce & Carter Pharmacy but the loss of two devoted figures in the community.

Yet their legacy lives on—in the barriers Alice broke as one of the first African American women pharmacists in New Jersey, in the people they served, and in the standard of excellence they upheld. Her life is a testament to what can be achieved through perseverance, courage, and belief in one’s God-given potential.

“Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” — Luke 1:45 (ESV)