Funeral Services For Civil Rights Leader And Icon Senior Minister Franklin D. Florence
Written by Andre on February 8, 2023
Senior Minister Franklin D. Florence Funeral Service Information
Min. Franklin Florence Sr
Service Arrangements
Friday, February 10th
Public Viewing 9:00AM – 6:00PM
Commemorative Community Service 6:00PM – 9:00PM
Central Church of Christ
101 Plymouth Ave, Rochester
Free Parking at Sister Cities Garage – Shuttles Provided
Free Parking at Civic Center – Limited Spaces
Saturday February 11th
Funeral Service 11:00AM – 2:00PM
Rochester Riverside Convention Center
123 E. Main St., Rochester
Parking Available at Convention Center
*All Services Are Open To The Community*
Born in 1934 in Miami, Florida, Senior Minister Franklin D. Florence, has committed his life to the task of preaching the Gospel. In his youth, he was one of the “boy preachers” who traveled extensively as teenagers with esteemed ministers such as Evangelist Marshall Keeble.
Prior to accepting the pastorate of the Central Church of Christ, he served as Pastor of the West Palm Beach Church of Christ in Florida, and for several years as the pastor of the Reynolds Street Church of Christ (now known as the East Henrietta Road Church of Christ).
Franklin D. Florence, is well known in the Rochester, New York community and nationally as “Minister Florence,” the name that became synonymous with his social activism as the first President of the F. I. G. H. T. Organization (Freedom-Independence-God-
His activism is fueled by his strong conviction that Christians and the church must be leaders in causes for social justice and equality. His conviction has not always been deemed favorable in many religious circles where the thought was (and often remains) that the church should separate itself from the social/political arena.
Minister Florence is a dynamic personality and a visionary pioneering leader. He has been blessed to see – and countless others have enjoyed – the rewards of his social justice efforts. The Rochester community and area communities owe him a debt of gratitude for the sacrificial work he has done in helping to open doors to fair employment and subsidized housing. He has also been a consistent voice and presence for quality academic and social education in our public school system.
Minister Florence has also been intricately involved in programs to improve correctional institutions, and he was one of the Ministers who labored so desperately to prohibit the massacre at the Attica Correctional Institution in the 1970’s. The papers that document his involvement in this crusade and others are on file at the University of Rochester Library.
Minister Florence passed away Wednesday morning. (02.01.23)
