James William Adams

Funeral services for James William (Bill) Adams will be April 28, 1:00pm, at Pafford Funeral Home in Lexington with burial at Lexington City Cemetery. Mr. Adams, a retired history teacher, died April 24, 2004, after a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Thomas and Etta Brooking Adams, beloved wife, Marie, grandson, Robert Jeffrey Adams, and brother-in-law, Andrew J. Zembles. He is survived by sons, James William Adams, Jr. and Jeffrey Goff Adams, wife Karis, granddaughter Jordan Elisabeth Adams, sister Betty Adams Zembles, nephew Joseph Zembles (Trudy), niece Mary Zembles Reider (Larry), brother-in-law, Frand Goff (Nell), sister-in-law, Virginia Butler, nephews, Ralph Butler (judy) and Tommy Butler, and several great-nieces and great-nephews. Mr. Adams attended St. Joseph Junior College for two years before joining the Air Force in April 1943. In July, 1944, he arrived in the European theater as a gunner on a B17 in the 15th Air Force. He flew fifty air missions over Southern Europe as a gunner and bombardier. He was awarded the Air Medal and Four Clusters and Good Conduct Bars for European, African, and Middle Eastern Theaters. He returned to the United States in December 1944, and was honorably discharged in October 1945. He was the only surviving member of his original crew. He continued his education at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO earning a Bachelor of Arts in June 1947. After a number of years as a sales manager for Pillsbury and General Foods, Mr. Adams decided to fulfill a lifelong dream of teaching history. In 1969, he earned a masters degree in the social sciences, graduating magna cum laude from Middle Tennessee State University. A lifetime learner, he subsequently earned an addition 45 hours overs his masters degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin. Mr. Adams served the Jackson Education Association and school syster for over 25 years. In addition to serving a term as President of the JEA, he was on various high school committees to improve the social science curriculum. He was certified to teach history, economics, government, sociology, and business law. Most of his teaching career was spent as chairman of the history department at Jackson Central Merry High School. His students admired him for his vast knowledge of historical trivia and his engaging sense of humor. He was well known for inspiring students to explore the role of history and its impact on American culture. Over 100 of his students attended the Presidential Classroom in Washington D.C. This accomplishment was a testament to his goal of garnering a respect for country and a love for its past as well as hope for its future. He was a polific writer and published a number of articles in several historical journals. He was also a frequent contributor of literary papers presented at the Joseph E. Martin Shakespeare Circle, of which he also served as President. After retirement from teaching in the Jackson school system, he volunteered in the library of the Jackson Madison County General Hospital for twelve years. He was a member o fthe First Christian Church and various civic groups. He thoroughly enjoyed his life and will be missed by family and friends who are left to cherish his memory. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or Duke University Children's Hospital adn Health Center (Office of Development, 512 S. Mangum St. suite 400, Durham, NC 27701).

James William Adams

December 9, 1922 - April 24, 2004