Historic Marker Unveiled on St. Bernard Avenue to Honor Civil Rights Leader, Businessman, Pharmacist Horace Bynum

Granddaughter, Saran Bynum reads the historical marker recently dedicated in honor of her trailblazing grandfather.

A crowd gathered in late July at 3840 St. Bernard Ave. to honor the life and legacy of pioneering pharmacist and civil rights activist Horace C. Bynum Sr. with the unveiling of a historic marker at the site of his former business, Bynum’s Pharmacy.

The ceremony was led by Ilyanette Bernabel, who served as mistress of ceremony, and opened with a heartfelt invocation by Monsignor John Cisewski. The event brought together city officials, family members, historians, and community leaders to celebrate Bynum’s contributions to healthcare, business, and civil rights in New Orleans.

Born in Monroe, Bynum was among the earliest graduates of Xavier University’s College of Pharmacy. At a time when Black pharmacists were barred from working in white-owned pharmacies, he worked at the post office before opening Bynum’s Pharmacy in the St. Bernard Housing Development. He later built the first Black-owned shopping center in the area and, alongside his sons, developed 50 homes in what is now known as Village de L’Est.

“Mr. Bynum was a trailblazer not only in healthcare but in creating economic opportunities for the Black community,” said Liz Sherman, executive director of the Pharmacy Museum, during her remarks.

Cyril Saulny, former president of the local NAACP chapter, reflected on Bynum’s leadership during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. From 1965 to 1968, Bynum served as the chapter's president, working closely with national figures including Judge Thurgood Marshall, Rev. Avery Alexander, A.P. Tureaud, Rev. A.L. Davis, and Mayor Ernest “Dutch” Morial.

Attorney Ernest Jones, representing the Friends of the Louisiana Civil Rights Museum, presented the Bynum Family with an official proclamation and emphasized Bynum’s enduring impact: “He was not just a businessman, he was a builder of a better future.”

Several members of the Bynum family—Adolph Bynum Sr., Adolph Bynum Jr., and Saran Bynum—shared heartfelt reflections on Horace C. Bynum Sr.'s legacy during the ceremony and stood proudly as the plaque was unveiled. Local dignitaries, including City Councilmembers Eugene Green, Oliver Thomas, and Judge Arthur Hunter, were also present, underscoring Bynum’s legacy as a civic leader.

The ceremony was a poignant reminder of how one man’s determination and vision transformed a community and helped pave the way for future generations. As the sun cast its golden light over the crowd, friends, neighbors, and community members stood united in gratitude and admiration.

The new historic marker now stands not only as a tribute to Horace C. Bynum Sr., but as an enduring symbol of resilience, leadership, and progress.