TOMS RIVER — The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office extended its condolences this week on the passing of Toms River NAACP President Bahiyyah Abdullah, praising her as “a tireless advocate for justice, equality, and community unity.”
“Her leadership, compassion, and unwavering dedication to making Ocean County a better place for all will not be forgotten,” the Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement. “We join the community in mourning her loss and honoring her lasting legacy of service.”
Born Wanda Boone on July 7, 1955, in Philadelphia, Abdullah was raised in Clinton, North Carolina, and later in Jersey City, where she graduated from Henry Snyder High School in 1973. She went on to earn a degree in political science and criminal justice from Jersey City State College (now New Jersey City University), where she also embraced the Islamic faith.
In 1975, she married Ibrahim Saleem Abdullah. The couple later settled in Barnegat, where they raised three children — Sajdah, Ibrahim, and Muhammad — and built a life rooted in faith, family, and community.
Abdullah dedicated 33 years to the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore, rising to the position of Chief Mission Officer. She mentored and inspired thousands of young women across Monmouth and Ocean counties to lead with courage, confidence, and character.
Her decades of civic leadership extended far beyond Girl Scouting. Abdullah served as president of the Toms River Area Branch of the NAACP, commissioner of the New Jersey State Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, and vice chair of the Ocean County Cultural & Heritage Commission. She also held leadership roles with the Continental Societies, Jack and Jill of America, the Links Incorporated, and several other community organizations.
Her many honors included the Barnegat Township Volunteer of the Year Award, the Constance K. Weaver Award from United Way of Ocean County, and induction into the Ocean County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2009. She was also named the 2016 Women’s Advocate of the Year by the Ocean County Advisory Commission on the Status of Women.
Known affectionately as “Ummi,” Abdullah was devoted to her family, including her seven grandchildren. She often said her drive to serve came from gratitude and faith, once noting, “We all have an obligation to give back.”
Abdullah is survived by her children, grandchildren, siblings, and a host of extended family, friends, and community members who were inspired by her compassion and leadership.
