WHEREAS,
Frances Hortense Preseley-Adams was born on Thursday, February 19, 1931, in Philadelphia and proudly attended Philadelphia public schools; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Adams married Edward Adams, a Streets Department employee, and they raised eleven children together in South Philadelphia. They created a home well known for generosity and compassion in the neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Adams was a supervisor for a South Philadelphia blinds manufacturer for over twenty years before serving as an assistant in public schools, including Bache-Martin Elementary School, Stoddart-Fleisher Elementary School, and Vaux Junior High School; and
WHEREAS,
In the 1970s as gang violence heightened throughout neighborhoods in Philadelphia, Mrs. Adams started Mothers Concerned, an organization of mothers dedicated to reducing violence by going into neighborhoods directly and engaging with young folks to promote peace; and
WHEREAS, As a result of her success with Mothers Concerned, Mrs. Adams was asked to serve in the City of Philadelphia’s Community Intervention initiative under the leadership of John White Sr., and during that time she was the Chaplain of the First Police District in South Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Frances’ compassion spread beyond reducing violence she opened her home to foster children for more than thirty years, caring for 118 children as both an emergency and long-term foster parent
; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Department of Human Services honored Mrs. Adams in 2002 for her distinguished service as a foster parent and youth advocate
; and
WHEREAS, On November 19, 2012, Frances Adams passed away at the age of 81, leaving behind a legacy of public service, advocacy and community leadership, leaving a lasting impact on all those who encountered her; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA,
Hereby honors public servant Frances Adams by renaming the 1800 Block of South 22nd Street to “Frances Adams Way” in recognition of her dedication to violence prevention in South Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution be presented to the family of Frances Adams as expression of gratitude by Philadelphia City Council.
End