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Commissioners approve honorary street name honoring Rev. D.A. Peace in Prentice Park
Summary
The Planning Commission approved HSND‑25‑01 to designate one block of Randolph Street between Des Moines Avenue and Lansing Avenue as "D.A. Peace Senior Way" in recognition of the late Reverend D.A. Peace and his community work; the vote was 6‑0.
The Portsmouth Planning Commission on April 1 approved an honorary street name designation (HSND‑25‑01) to rename one block of Randolph Street in the Prentice Park neighborhood as D.A. Peace Senior Way in honor of the late Reverend D.A. Peace, former pastor of Zion Bethel United Church of Christ.
DeVise Peace Branch, who submitted the application on behalf of the family, described her father’s decades of community service. Branch told commissioners her father led programs that provided meals, temporary housing in winter months, Vacation Bible School and outreach programs including a substance‑abuse ministry that worked with the Portsmouth Drug Court. "He affected innumerable lives and had a major positive impact on the city at large," Branch said.
Planning staff explained the city’s honorary naming practice and outreach steps: a public hearing advertisement, a sign posted near the property (the one‑block proposal), and notification of adjacent property owners. Staff noted no responses in opposition had been received. Commissioner Jiggs spoke in support and described Reverend Peace’s impact on adjacent neighborhoods; the commission asked no further questions. No members of the public registered to speak during the hearing on this item.
The commission approved the honorary designation by a vote of 6‑0. The sign will be a brown honorary marker placed above the official street sign, consistent with city policy.
