Franklin Roosevelt Steed Sr. was a former superintendent of Greenway Apartments.

Steed died July 15, 2012 at Penn Medicine Hospice at Rittenhouse. He was 79.

Steed was born in Oxford, N.C. on May 6, 1933 to the late Richard and Cora Branch-Steed. He was educated in the Granville County Education System. He joined Red Bud Baptist Church in Henderson, N.C. as a child. He moved to Philadelphia at the age of 16.

Steed was a hard worker and sometimes worked two jobs to provide for his family. He worked at Bookbinders and RJK Catering Company as a truck driver. For 19 years, he was an armed security officer for L. Washington Security. When the company went out of business in 2005, he became a superintendent at Greenway Apartments until his health no longer permitted him to work in May of 2012.

Steed was a 33rd degree Master Mason. He loved reading, fishing, gardening and entertaining family at cookouts in his yard.

“Franklin had a smile that made you feel like no matter what kind of mood you were in, everything would be fine after spending time with him,” his family said.

People loved to sit and talk with him and would often lose track of time while doing so.”

He served his community as a block captain and as an usher at Union Tabernacle Baptist Church.

Steed was preceded in death by his grandson, nine brothers and six sisters.

He is survived by his wife. Geraldine Steed; sons and daughters, Cheryl, Franklin Jr., Nasir, Sierra and Bianca; brothers, William Thomas Steed and Samuel Steed of Oxford, N.C.; sister, Alberta Praileau of New York; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

Services were held July 24 at Union Tabernacle Baptist Church. Burial was in Merion Memorial Park, Bala Cynwyd.

Ivan Kimble Funeral Home handled the arrangements.