PHILADELPHIA, December 8 – On Saturday, December 6, state Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Philadelphia, co-hosted a ceremony at the intersection of North 63rd Street and Lansdowne Avenue in the Overbrook section of West Philadelphia. The occasion marked the renaming of the 6300 block of Lansdowne Avenue to “Jayanna Powell Way.” This tribute honors the memory of Jayanna Powell, an eight-year-old girl who was tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident on that very block in November 2016. She was struck by a reckless driver who fled the scene and was apprehended weeks later.
Rep. Cephas was joined at the ceremony by Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr., who presented a City Council Resolution officially recognizing the renaming. Other speakers included state Sen. Anthony H. Williams, D-Philadelphia/Delaware, Jayanna’s mother, Ayeisha Powell, and her aunt, Jasmine Hawkins.
“The loss of Jayanna Powell was a devastating shock that continues to resonate with the Overbrook community,” Cephas stated. “By renaming this block in her honor, we remember the potential of a precious life lost far too young while focusing on her legacy of being a force for good in her community.”…