Odessa Warren Grey(1883-1960)

Starting as a singer and dancer in a number of theatrical presentations such as Williams & Walker's "The Policy Players" (1899-1900) and "In Dahomey" (1902-06), and Ernest Hogan's "Rufus Rastus" (1906-08), Odessa Warren Grey, an accomplished actress, was also a capable and skilled milliner who eventually gave up the stage to go into business full time. For over forty years she owned and operated "Odessa's Millinery Shop" on Seventh avenue in Harlem. She also was a part-owner of the weekly newspaper the (New York) "Amsterdam News."