Help pours in for a St. Petersburg woman raising 11 children after her daughter's slaying.
By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN
Published August 23, 2006
ST. PETERSBURG - Co-workers donated clothes. Strangers offered boxes of food. And one woman wanted to give them a double-wide mobile home.
They were all moved by the story of Francina Brown, the 52-year-old grandmother raising 11 children in a tiny one-bedroom apartment on Newton Avenue S. Most of the kids are her grandchildren; the others are also relatives. Brown already was raising six children, then took in five more when her daughter was killed last month. The nursing home cook carried her burden anonymously until the St. Petersburg Times profiled her Monday.
"I'm very thankful," Brown said. "I'm just shy. I've always been independent. It's kind of hard for me to talk to people, but I want them to know that I appreciate everything they've done."
Brown's daughter Jacqueline Johnson was killed by a longtime friend last month, police said. Ebony Williams, 25, stabbed Johnson, 33, in the neck with a screwdriver after an argument, according to police. Williams was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder.
After five of Johnson's children moved in, Brown's small apartment turned into a scene of chaos. Six children sleep in bunk beds, and the rest usually sleep on the floor or on a futon.
"She's a brave woman," said Mary Graham-McElroy, 86, who offered to donate canned goods and clothes. "So many people are running away from their children, and she's trying to keep them together."
Lawyer Darryl Rouson's firm has helped set up an account to benefit the Brown family at Freedom Bank.
When strangers offer help, Brown smiles and says thanks. In some ways, the publicity is hard on a quiet woman who grew up working on a farm, raising children and minding her own business.
Local celebrities also are helping. Boxing champion Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy's charity is donating $1,000 in certificates for groceries. "It's really something that hit home and we wanted to give something to her," Lacy said.
Dan Birmingham, Lacy's trainer and the owner of the St. Pete Boxing Club, said he wanted to encourage people to donate to Brown.
"I feel for the lady," he said.
Radio station WBTP-FM 95.7, "The Beat," also is publicizing Brown's situation to raise money for her.
Toni Cooper, 49, a longtime friend of Brown who is helping coordinate donations, said she was stunned that so many people wanted to help Brown.
"I'll admit I was really surprised," Cooper said. "There's a whole lot of people out there who definitely care about other people."
