Uncrowned Community Builders

Dessie Alicia Woolfolk Hinto was born in Richmond, VA and married John Santos Hinto of Bravo, Cape Verde Islands, Portugal, the son of a pharmacist. She gave birth to her only child, Belmira Hinto Lester Harris in 1932.

The Hintos, working odd jobs, survived the depression era and would often contribute food and or clothing to those less fortunate. They ran a boarding house on Grove Avenue, which provided shelter for those who travelled north for work, and who did not have sufficient means to pay for acceptable housing. The same Grove Avenue house was once the "DeVeaux College for Orphan and Destitute Children" in 1853.

Mrs. Hinto was one the first black female entrepreneurs of Niagara Falls, New York. In the forties, Dessie relocated temporally to New York City where she received her license certificate in the art of barbering. She attended the infamous Joe Lewis School of Barbering, located in Harlem, NY, and was the only female in her class. Upon her return, Dessie had internships with both Yvonne Carter and Joe Teal.

After her internship, Mrs. Hinto opened "Hinto's Barber Shop", first located on Highland Avenue in Niagara Falls, New York. She employed many blacks during this period, affording individuals with not only income but also a trade skill they might not have otherwise obtained.

Mrs. Hinto was a member of the Black Workman's Association and the Niagara Falls Community Center [NFCC]. She was active in fundraising events for the NFCC during its origination years. During the forties, Dessie was Director of the St. John AME Church's senior and junior choirs. One of her students mentioned recently that Mrs. Hinto taught the choir to sing Ava Maria in Latin, and she still remembers her lessons to this day. Dessie was an accomplished pianist and guitarist. In the seventies, Dessie Alicia joined New Jerusalem Revival Center, and was one of the "Mothers" of the congregation. In her senior years, she received the title of "Queen of the Senior Citizens".