The Late Beatres R. Dunn will be Honored with a Ceremonial Triangle Park
Re-Naming Dedication

March 23, 2023

Wilmington, DE – Shané Darby, 2nd District Council Member of the Wilmington City Council, will join family and community members at a ceremony to rename a Triangle Park in honor of the late Wilmington-born lifelong community activist, Beatres R. Dunn.

On October 6, 2022, the city council passed Ordinance 22-026 which names the Concord and Madison triangle the “Beatres R. Dunn Triangle,” in recognition of Ms. Dunn and her significant contributions to the City of Wilmington. The ordinance can be read here [wilmingtoncitycouncil.us17.list-manage.com]. The mayor signed the ordinance on October 10, 2022.

A Ceremonial Triangle Park Re-Naming Dedication will take place at the Concord and Madison Triangle bounded by Concord Avenue, Madison Street, and 23rd Street, on Sunday, March 26, 2023, at 3 p.m.

Restating her words as expressed in the ordinance, Councilwoman Darby said today that Beatres R. Dunn was a devoted and dedicated family woman who, despite numerous challenges and obstacles, never lost her servant spirit for the impoverished and forgotten in her local community. “Council is pleased to honor individuals such as Beatres R. Dunn, who tirelessly fed, clothed, and cared for the community,” Councilwoman Darby said.

Born in Wilmington, Delaware to Russell and Juanita Collins, Beatres R. Dunn was known to be a very loving and caring warrior mostly for the less fortunate. She received her early education in the parochial and public schools of Wilmington, Delaware, and graduated from the historic Howard High School. She enjoyed playing softball at Kingswood Community Center and loved being family oriented.

Ms. Dunn worked as a teacher at David W. Harlan Elementary School, Burnett Middle School, and with the Title One program at Stubbs Elementary School. She was a mother of nine to Tony Dunn, Jr., Robert Collins, Rochelle Broomer, Charles Dunn, Shawn Dunn, Dona Dunn, Raymond Davis, Tishena Davis, and the late Brian Davis.

She also worked for the City of Wilmington’s Department of Parks and Recreation and was the founding and active member of the National Coalition of the Title 1 ESEA Parent Council. She was also a member of the Women’s Auxiliary. Sometimes called “Ms. Riverside,” she was a strong advocate for thousands and a mentor for disadvantaged minority children who had learning and/or behavioral disadvantages.

She started The Garden of Flowers program in Riverside where she taught tenants how to plant and care for their own plants. She held movies in the streets for kids during the summer and worked rigorous hours and days speaking to families to make sure they were aware of any new assistance programs that they may otherwise not have known about. She also took families on shopping trips and to amusement parks during the summer.

Although there were times when Ms. Dunn had to be apart from her own children, she was never discouraged for she led her children in a “Sit In” in the Mayor’s office, and traveled extensively with the NAACP to fight for equal rights for all families. She also enjoyed going to church and was a member of New Mount Olive Baptist Church for many years, until her health began to fail.

Her family, community and City Council wish to recognize the generous and caring spirit of Beatres R. Dunn, with a Ceremonial Triangle Park Re-Naming Dedication at the Concord and Madison Triangle bounded by Concord Avenue, Madison Street, and 23rd Street, on Sunday, March 26, 2023, at 3 p.m.

 

MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Yesenia Taveras
Director of Communications, Wilmington City Council
Office: (302) 576-2585
Email: ytaveras@wilmingtonde.gov
City Council Website: www.wilmingtoncitycounc