Obituary of Dr. Franki Reddick-Gibson

Obituary Dr. Franki Reddick was born on December 2, 1956 in Philadelphia, PA to the late Irvin McKinley Reddick and Clara Lee Paschall Reddick. Franki , a wife, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend answered the Master’s call and passed away peacefully, with her husband, Paul Appleby and sister, Jayne Howard by her side, on April 20, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. Franki attended Philadelphia public schools. She continued her education at Temple University, graduating with a degree in Liberal Arts. She then continued her education by receiving a Masters and a Doctorate in Psychology. Franki worked as a Flight Attendant for United Airlines based in Chicago, Illinois. She traveled all over the world including South America, China, Japan and Thailand. She retired from the airlines after thirty-five years of service. After retirement, she pursued her passion, working as a Clinical Psychology in Philadelphia, and Boston, and spent the last twelve years of her life in Prescott Valley, Arizona and worked as the Clinical Director for Mingus Mountain Academy. Franki, affectionately known as Bunny always like helping people. Her career was her calling. She worked as a Candy Striper in a hospital, ran a soup kitchen, women’s ministry at Christian Love Baptist Church, book clubs, and latest venture was helping girls deal with sexual exploitation trauma. She was awarded the Spirit of Bettelheim award, the first woman and first African American to earn the prestigious award from the Association of Children’s Residential Centers. Honorees are selected for their leadership skills and advocacy for children. Franki partnered with Arizona State University to look at treatment programs for girls caught in sex trafficking operations. She served on the board of Ho’ola Na Pua, which is opening their first treatment center in Hawaii for sexually exploited girls, the first African-American female elected to the ACRC board eight years ago and served on the Prescott Valley Arts and Culture Commission for nine years, being the first African-American commissioner and chairwoman. In addition to her calling, she was an author of four books, loved music, and more importantly she loved the lord. She was very active in her church homes in Philadelphia, Boston and Arizona. She is survived by a loving family: her husband, Paul Appleby; her sister, Jayne Howard; her brother; Armstead McKinley Reddick; her nephew/God son, Addison Farrell Howard, her niece, Sherrita Emerson-Willis, her step-daughter, Jasmine Phillips, her God daughter , Gabrielle Moore, her God son, Jared Coles, our special sister, Ruthie Bennett, aunts, Johnnie Brown (Roger), and Pearl Clarke (John), Mary Jane Paschall, her uncle Eugene Paschall, and a host of cousins, sister n-laws and countless friends and lives Franki has touched throughout her life. Preceding her in death was her father, Irvin McKinley Reddick; her mother, Clare Lee Paschall Reddick, her brother, Charles Eric Reddick, her nephew, Kenny Davis, her grandparents, and several aunts and uncles. The family would like to express special thanks to Bishop Coleman and Reverend Kinsey for their support during this time.