Frances Adams, 81, mother who stood up to youth gang violence

In the 1970s, when youth gang violence gripped many Philadelphia neighborhoods, Frances Adams, a mother of 11 from South Philadelphia, attacked the problem - with a baseball bat.

Along with North Philadelphia's Jean Hobson, Mrs. Adams led Mothers Concerned, a group of women dedicated to ending the almost-daily carnage on the city's streets.

Mrs. Adams, 81, a South Philadelphia activist who, over three decades, took more than 100 foster children into her home, died Monday, Nov. 19, of dementia at Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience.

She was the South Philadelphia leader of Mothers Concerned, and Hobson led North Philadelphia Mothers Concerned.

Mrs. Adams "was all about family and safety and making sure children had their well-being, a place to eat, and a place to be safe," said her daughter Renee Adams.

Born Frances Hortense Presley on Feb. 19, 1931, she attended Philadelphia public schools. She was married to Edward Adams, a city Streets Department worker. The couple raised 11 children in a large, three-story rowhouse in South Philadelphia. He died in 1990.

Mrs. Adams worked as a supervisor for a manufacturer of venetian blinds in South Philadelphia for more than 20 years.

She later worked as a nonteaching assistant for the Philadelphia School District at Bache-Martin Elementary, Stoddart-Fleisher Elementary, and Vaux Junior High Schools.

Hobson, Mrs. Adams, and others formed Mothers Concerned and would go to scenes of gang violence armed with baseball bats to talk to young people, steering them away from violence.

"Frances was committed to correcting a problem that plagued her community and others across the city," said Acel Moore, Inquirer associate editor emeritus.

When the women started confronting youngsters, he said, people said the tactic would not work. "But those boys respected those mothers. They backed off," Moore said. "I think that if men in that community had done that, there would have been a different reaction."

Moore hailed Mrs. Adams and Hobson as "steel magnolias" for their courage and determination.

Anthony Murphy, executive director of Town Watch Integrated Services, which works to prevent crime and violence, recalled that in the early 1980s, the area of 11th and Loudon in the Logan section was gripped by rising drug dealing and violence. He said Mrs. Adams and others stepped forward.

"Mothers talked and mothers got together, and up to 11th and Loudon they went on those corners and they would not let them sell drugs," Murphy said. "And, yes, they had baseball bats.

"I doubt that they would hit anyone, but you never know," Murphy said.

Renee Adams said her mother opened her home to many in the community over the years.

"Everybody in South Philly knew if you wanted some good food, if you wanted a prayer, and if you were without, that's where you would come," Renee Adams said.

In 2002, Mrs. Adams was honored with an award by the Department of Human Services. The agency noted that her home was approved as an emergency and long-term foster home and that she cared for 118 foster children over 32 years.

"Twenty-five of her foster kids said they would come to her services," Renee Adams said. "They said, 'If it wasn't for her, where would we be?' "

In addition to her daughter Renee, Mrs. Adams is survived by sons Jeffrey Presley, Edward Pressley, Derrick Adams, Dale Adams, and David Adams; and daughters Paige Presley, Lynne Adams, Kitty Adams, and Michelle Adams. A son, Barry Adams, preceded her in death.

A viewing will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at Yesha Ministries Worship Center, 2301 Snyder Ave. A funeral will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be in West Laurel Hill Cemetery.