In 1959 Johnny Brandon bought a home the historic West End neighborhood at 5415 Cabanne Ave. Gertrude Adams and her son Johnny moved in and were amongst the original black families to descend upon the white upper-class community occupied with spacious homes and immaculate lawns aligned with beautiful flowers.
Mrs. Adams always held a fondness for the betterment of her people. She formed the 5300-5400 Cabanne Block Unit in 1962 and was president for many years and served along with fellow neighbor Mr. Kelly until the mid-1970s when illness impelled her to step down. By 1964, white flight had begun to take place and the once white upper-class neighborhood with a few black middle-class homeowners had become more black and less middle-class with apartment dwellers.
She assisted those families that were in need and less financially stable by providing assistance campaigning for them to receive support, food, furniture, appliances and some received more affordable housing with improved conditions. Mrs. Adams would provide her home on many occasions for church functions when her neighborhood worship place, Northern Baptist Church, burned down where she was a member. She would not hesitate to address a fellow neighbor if she noticed something that was not for “the good of the community.”
Amongst her many tributes to her community she organized a meal for seniors’ program at West Presbyterian Church at 5872 Maple Ave. in the early 1970s. The program provided hearty meals and entertaining activities to enrich and stimulate the well-being for seniors. Mrs. Adams fought to obtain new sidewalks and street pavement in which her Cabanne street consisted of the original red brick. Very vocal and against the local buses being moved from the Hodiamont Tracks onto the street of Cabanne Avenue due to the extreme vibrations, shaking of the old neighborhood structures, the buses where eventually moved back to Tracks.
She was very adamant about urban renewal in her aging 1890s community. Mrs. Adams tried to make sure her neighborhood would not be suppressed and neglected. She dabbled in the political scene and fought hard in the 26th Ward and was proud to work in the William “Bill” Clay Sr. election campaign in the 1960s.
Mrs. Adams was outspoken, very classy, fashionable lady, conveyed a pleasant, warm friendly demeanor was highly regarded and respected by neighbors. She was affectionately called “Ninnie” by family and close friends, never called “grandmother.” Her sons referred to her as “Lady.” Gertrude’s sentiment was “Always treat people like you want to be treated” and “No matter how much money you make, always live well”.
Gertrude was born to parents Clem and Isabelle “Belle” Cooney in Okolona, Mississippi, the youngest of 13 children; her siblings Delia, Franklin, Nannie, Ellie, David, Nena, and Tonie (other 6 names unknown). She married James C. Brandon in 1907 in Okolona; their children were Annie Mae (died 1979), James W., Jr. (died 1986), Hildred (2000), Johnny (died 1981) and another daughter who died at age 4. She moved to St. Louis in 1921. By 1932, she married second husband Stephen Adams, they had 2 sons Frank (died 2006) and Carl (died 1934).
She was the devoted family matriarch, the nucleus and backbone of the family, the one that held them all together.
