When he died in March 1996, Neal Adams left a legacy of exemplary service to the black community in Dade County and to the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

A native of Jupiter, Florida, Adams was a prominent member of the Brownsville community. His well-known business, Neal’s Grocery Market, relocated to Brownsville at 4825 N.W. 27^th Avenue from its original location in Railroad Shop Addition at 4801 N.W. 13^th Avenue, where it opened in January 1940. For a short time, when he and others were fighting the county’s eviction notice that cleared the way for construction of Allapattah Elementary and Middle schools, he operated The Sepian movie theater at the 27^th Avenue site.

His selfless service is legendary. He donated $25,000 in cash contributions for the construction of the well-known Brownsville Improvement Aviation Community Center building and helped other black businessmen in establishing their own firms. He also stopped mortgage foreclosures on numerous homes in the black community, assisted in securing welfare and other assistance for the needy and created numerous job opportunities within the black community of greater Miami.

Adams also believed passionately in the right of blacks to receive just treatment under the law. As direct results of his successful efforts to register Brownsville residents to vote, the community gained stature with the county commission and successfully lobbied for the installation of street lights, paved roads, improved storm drainage, and other improvements. Neal supplied round-trip transportation to the voter registration office in downtown Miami and instruction on successfully completing registration process for those who agreed to take this step. Later, he and his wife set up a registration center in the market, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., to facilitate the registration process for their Brownsville neighbors.

In recognition of his exemplary leadership, Adams became the first black chosen to serve on the Crime Commission of Greater Miami. He also was twice appointed to the Board of County Commissioners by the Governor of the State of Florida, even as he continued to immerse himself in the struggle to make equality of economic and political opportunity a reality for blacks in South Florida.

Adams’ involvements in the NAACP included a term as Regional NAACP Coordinator for the South East Region of Florida. In this capacity, he was involved in civil rights struggles from coast to coast. For his assistance in the reorganization of the Miami-Dade Branch, he received the Rughtledge H. Pearson Award, the most prestigious honor given by the Florida State conference of NAACP branches. The Adams-Powell Award, the highest award given to an individual by the local NAACP chapter, was named for Adams and his best friend, Richard Powell, who together gave many years’ service to the local NAACP chapter.

In honor of Neal Adams’ many important contributions to the spirit and the substance of the organization, the souvenir journal commemorating the 8th annual NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet, held on June 1, 1996, was dedicated to his memory.

Source:    Article in the Souvenir journal, 8^th Annual Freedom Fund Banquet, NAACP, June 1, 1996; and interview with Mrs. Ora Lee Adams, January 24, 1997, n.p.