GAINESVILLE - The reason Gainesville's aquatic and community center was named for Frances Meadows was recalled Wednesday at the center's dedication ceremony.
Friends and family of the late Hall County commissioner, who was also Hall's first black female commissioner, gathered to remember her.
As a bronze plaque bearing her image was unveiled, her sister Joyce Rucker and other family members watched and wept.
"It's like she's standing there herself," Rucker said. "It's a great resemblance of her and we're very proud of it."
Rucker continued, "This was a dream of hers, to make sure that kids in Hall County had a place to go that would not be far from home and would be a safe place. Frances was not even a swimmer but she would love this."
Rucker said she noticed a calmness right before the dedication prayer delivered by Richard Meadows Jr., Frances Meadows' son, who represented the family.
"It just felt warm all of a sudden and I felt her presence here; I'm just so proud we have this kind of facility in our community."
Parks and Recreation Director Melvin Cooper said community support for the center has been overwhelming, beginning with the day the $12-million facility opened to the public Aug. 30.
"We didn't know if we were going to have 200 people to show up on the first day or 1,000, but we've been averaging great numbers out here," Cooper said.
Jody Cooley, Vice Chairman of the Gainesville Parks and Recreation Board, invited the audience to listen to the sound of children playing in the water.
"Those sounds say more about what this place is about than anything I can say or anything anyone else will say from this podium," Cooley said.
Cooley said the center would be a important part of the recreation and civic life of the city.
"Today marks the culmination of a multi-year dream," he said.
Friday
October 18th, 2024
4:51AM
