HERstory
Maid. Devout Catholic Intercessor. Etiquette Instructor. Creole Culinarian
Anatomical Donor. Gardener. Advocate for Seniors
The Settlement of Freetowm- St. James Historian. Mentor. Volunteer. Humanitarian.
Philanthropist. Ambassador for Excellence. Consultant. Centenarian.
FLORESTINE ADAMS (February 1900 – March 2000) was an independent consultant whose career started as a maid. Her successful career in hospitality and her zeal for excellence propelled her to strengthen her community. She did so through mentorship, advocacy, volunteerism, philanthropy, and creating awareness to the legacy of the Settlement of Freetown's founding pioneers and community.
Anatomical Donor. Gardener. Advocate for Seniors
The Settlement of Freetowm- St. James Historian. Mentor. Volunteer. Humanitarian.
Philanthropist. Ambassador for Excellence. Consultant. Centenarian.
FLORESTINE ADAMS (February 1900 – March 2000) was an independent consultant whose career started as a maid. Her successful career in hospitality and her zeal for excellence propelled her to strengthen her community. She did so through mentorship, advocacy, volunteerism, philanthropy, and creating awareness to the legacy of the Settlement of Freetown's founding pioneers and community.
EARLY YEARS
Florestine (née Mitchell) Adams was born in Hymel, Louisiana (present day St. James, La.) to Choctaw and Louisiana Creole parentage. She grew up in the historic Settlement of Freetown community and directly descends from its' co-founder and pioneering St. James landowner, V. Morris.
Florestine was the daughter Elfére Mitchell, a master carpenter whose work includes the historic Freetown Hall (home to The Rising Sun Benevolent Association), and Sidonie, a native Louisiana Creole speaker, who worked as a laundress at the historic Jefferson College (Louisiana's oldest private institution for higher learning founded in 1830 by Louisiana's French Creoles). Florestine's father taught her gardening and the various uses of local plants and herbs. She learned to make herbal healing teas and salves. The Mitchells' were active members of the historic St. James Catholic Church, and The Rising Sun Benevolent Association, a benevolent and mutual aid society established September 1908 in the Freetown community.
CAREER
Briefly educated in St. James Parish; Florestine moved to New Orleans where she studied étiquette and culinary. She was devout Catholic who fully embraced her gift of intercessory. She was a personal and crisis intercessor whose prayer life produced miraculous results. People in distress often sought her to intercede to God on their behalf.
Florestine left Southeast Louisiana for North Texas. There, she gained employment as a maid. As God favored her, Florestine secured work with prominent Dallas-Ft. Worth families using her P3T culinary method to create exquisite meals. She added refinement to family dining experiences by teaching proper dining etiquette and protocol to children and incorporating fine Louisiana Creole food dishes into the families' diet just as her mother, Sidonie, had taught her.
Florestine Adams' Louisiana Creole food dishes were deemed delicious and difficult to replicate. Many North Texans sought her to plan and prepare menus for their households and social events. Florestine's culinary and event management skills placed her in great demand. Business opportunities expeditiously found her.
Florestine (née Mitchell) Adams was born in Hymel, Louisiana (present day St. James, La.) to Choctaw and Louisiana Creole parentage. She grew up in the historic Settlement of Freetown community and directly descends from its' co-founder and pioneering St. James landowner, V. Morris.
Florestine was the daughter Elfére Mitchell, a master carpenter whose work includes the historic Freetown Hall (home to The Rising Sun Benevolent Association), and Sidonie, a native Louisiana Creole speaker, who worked as a laundress at the historic Jefferson College (Louisiana's oldest private institution for higher learning founded in 1830 by Louisiana's French Creoles). Florestine's father taught her gardening and the various uses of local plants and herbs. She learned to make herbal healing teas and salves. The Mitchells' were active members of the historic St. James Catholic Church, and The Rising Sun Benevolent Association, a benevolent and mutual aid society established September 1908 in the Freetown community.
CAREER
Briefly educated in St. James Parish; Florestine moved to New Orleans where she studied étiquette and culinary. She was devout Catholic who fully embraced her gift of intercessory. She was a personal and crisis intercessor whose prayer life produced miraculous results. People in distress often sought her to intercede to God on their behalf.
Florestine left Southeast Louisiana for North Texas. There, she gained employment as a maid. As God favored her, Florestine secured work with prominent Dallas-Ft. Worth families using her P3T culinary method to create exquisite meals. She added refinement to family dining experiences by teaching proper dining etiquette and protocol to children and incorporating fine Louisiana Creole food dishes into the families' diet just as her mother, Sidonie, had taught her.
Florestine Adams' Louisiana Creole food dishes were deemed delicious and difficult to replicate. Many North Texans sought her to plan and prepare menus for their households and social events. Florestine's culinary and event management skills placed her in great demand. Business opportunities expeditiously found her.
"Your posture dictates your position." ~Florestine Adams
Florestine was certified and professionally trained in etiquette, culinary, and hospitality. She incorporated her skills and culture into building her personal brand, becoming an independent consultant. Her services included teaching proper étiquette and protocol, training domestic workers and private household staff, food preparation and proper plating, and event management. Florestine coordinated a host of socials and special events for private clientele--which included Dallas/Ft. Worth elites. She met a distinguished gentleman named C. Adams. He became her husband.
Upon the death of her husband; Florestine retired and returned to her hometown of St. James, Louisiana. There, she served as a pillar to the Freetown - St. James, and St. James Catholic communities. She lend a hand where needed and continued her zeal for excellence to strengthen her community. Florestine became the primary caretaker to her mother who had became blind, and an advocate for St. James Parish's 5th district senior residents.
A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE
Florestine Adams planted seeds of excellence within her community. Through mentorship, she taught women the importance of being poised and professional while advising them on ways to effectively network and build strong relationships among themselves and with local business and community leaders. She encouraged young Catholics to celebrate their Catholic faith and mentored Holy Eucharist's candidates. Florestine was known for providing the candidates with keepsake boxes to celebrate their special occasion. The keepsakes boxes contained religious items that celebrated the Catholic Faith and a little lagniappe (a French word meaning "small gift/a little something extra") usually a monetary gift.
PHILANTHROPY
Mrs. Adams tithed a portion of her earnings to St. James Catholic Church and generously donated to the Catholic Diocese, Catholics Charities, and non-profit organizations geared towards education and emergency aid. She also provided financial assistance towards the education of many students from St. James, Vacherie, Donaldsonville, New Orleans, and the North Dallas communities. Her charitable efforts extended internationally to impoverished areas in Africa, Haiti, Cuba, Central and South America. Florestine Adams was also a dedicated volunteer with CRS Rice Bowl and the March of Dimes.
Upon the death of her husband; Florestine retired and returned to her hometown of St. James, Louisiana. There, she served as a pillar to the Freetown - St. James, and St. James Catholic communities. She lend a hand where needed and continued her zeal for excellence to strengthen her community. Florestine became the primary caretaker to her mother who had became blind, and an advocate for St. James Parish's 5th district senior residents.
A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE
Florestine Adams planted seeds of excellence within her community. Through mentorship, she taught women the importance of being poised and professional while advising them on ways to effectively network and build strong relationships among themselves and with local business and community leaders. She encouraged young Catholics to celebrate their Catholic faith and mentored Holy Eucharist's candidates. Florestine was known for providing the candidates with keepsake boxes to celebrate their special occasion. The keepsakes boxes contained religious items that celebrated the Catholic Faith and a little lagniappe (a French word meaning "small gift/a little something extra") usually a monetary gift.
PHILANTHROPY
Mrs. Adams tithed a portion of her earnings to St. James Catholic Church and generously donated to the Catholic Diocese, Catholics Charities, and non-profit organizations geared towards education and emergency aid. She also provided financial assistance towards the education of many students from St. James, Vacherie, Donaldsonville, New Orleans, and the North Dallas communities. Her charitable efforts extended internationally to impoverished areas in Africa, Haiti, Cuba, Central and South America. Florestine Adams was also a dedicated volunteer with CRS Rice Bowl and the March of Dimes.
Even in death, Florestine Adams' legacy of giving was illuminated. As a humanitarian gesture to support the advancement of medical education, research and technology; Florestine donated her organs and body to the Bureau of Anatomical Services. She understood the need for donors and that her donation would further increase the demand for more doctors, dentists, nurses, and other health service practitioners, especially in rural areas such as her hometown of St. James, Louisiana. Florestine Adams' generosity remains a noteworthy contribution to medical education and research in the state of Louisiana.
Mrs. Florestine Adams died a centenarian (100 yrs old), leaving a timeless legacy of excellence and spiritual inheritance. At the time of her death; she was the eldest resident of the historic Settlement of Freetown community, the eldest member of St. James Catholic Church, The Rising Sun Benevolent Association, St. James Parish's Senior Citizens Center-Welcome Park, and the eldest registered anatomical donor in St. James Parish.
Mrs. Florestine Adams died a centenarian (100 yrs old), leaving a timeless legacy of excellence and spiritual inheritance. At the time of her death; she was the eldest resident of the historic Settlement of Freetown community, the eldest member of St. James Catholic Church, The Rising Sun Benevolent Association, St. James Parish's Senior Citizens Center-Welcome Park, and the eldest registered anatomical donor in St. James Parish.
Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness],
but you excel them all. ~ Proverbs 31 : 29
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