Obituary for Rev. Larry Elliott Adams
THE REVEREND DOCTOR LARRY ELLIOTT ADAMS
Mollusk - Larry E Adams 78, of Mollusk passed away suddenly at his home on December 21, 2022.
He was born on September 21, 1944 to the late Peyton and Nita Ray Adams. He leaves behind his loving wife Karen Adams; sons, Clark Adams (Miranda), Christian Adams (Heidi), Clay Adams (Nida); daughters Kasey Donahue (Derek), Karlie Philips (Bryan); Grandchildren, Delaney, Sydney, Josie, Avery, Makenna, Isabella and Nicholas Adams, Jarvis, Kolbey and Kelsey Donahue, Kylie and Kinzlie Philips. He is also survived by a brother Alvin Adams (Tammy) and sisters Eugenia Felder and Carol Schwager (John) and many nephews and nieces.
Larry received his Bachelor of Arts from Millsaps College in Mississippi. He then continued his academic journey at Duke University to obtain a Master of Divinity, between his second and third year of studies at Duke University he entered a program to become a missionary in Rhodesia now the country of Zimbabwe for a year. Then returning to North Carolina to complete his studies at Duke University Divinity school. In the middle of his ministerial career he returned to academic life and received a Doctor of Ministry degree from The Wesley Theological Seminary of The United Methodist Church.
Upon completing the Master of Divinity program at Duke University, Larry participated in a Duke partnership program and served the Auld Kirk of Ayr as an Assistant Minister in Ayr, Scotland. Upon returning to Mississippi he was ordained in the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church. His first appointment was at Broadmeadow U.M.C. as an Associate Minister in Jackson, Mississippi. His second was with Wesleyanna U.M.C. and Monterey U.M.C. Charge as Minister in Star, Mississippi. In 1975 he transferred to the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. His first appointment in Virginia was serving Cheriton U.M.C. and Oyster U.M.C. Charge as Minister on the Eastern Shore. He later was appointed to Oak Grove U.M.C. as Minister in Chesapeake, Virginia. His next appointment in Virginia was at Bethel U.M.C. and Emmanuel U.M.C. Charge as Minister in Lancaster County. Then he was appointed to Warwick Memorial U.M.C. as Senior Minister in Newport News, Virginia. His last appointment before retirement was at Aldersgate U.M.C. as Senior Minister, currently known as New Creation U.M.C., in Chesapeake, Virginia. Larry liked to say, “All of my Virginia appointments were within a ten mile radius of the Chesapeake Bay.”.
After retiring in 2007, Larry moved back to Lancaster County of Virginia. He enjoyed his boat, fishing and crabbing from his dock. He was the proudest of Grandfathers attending baseball games, field hockey games, softball games, golf tournaments, dance recitals, soccer games, basketball games, track meets, choral performances, and swim lessons. He often shared his hope to have a dozen Grandchildren and this summer received that blessing, Nicholas Joseph Adams.
Larry had promised his boys that he would write a book about his childhood memories of Summit, Mississippi. One of his greatest accomplishments in retirement was completing and publishing that memoir “Sounds of Summit” in 2021. In 2022, he attended the renowned Mississippi Book Festival in Jackson. The fourteen day round trip journey included visiting many members of family and friends throughout the states he traveled.
During his ministry he participated in various adventures like walking the state of Virginia, from the Chesapeake Bay to the West Virginia state line. There were many days on this walk he was accompanied by church members, a fellow pastor, and his son Clay. From 2000 to 2016 he enjoyed world travels with family and friends teaching about the faith communities, art, history, and culture of those places. He worked with the Boy Scout troops of his sons, going on many camping and hiking events. Later he worked with Boy Scout troops in the many communities he lived in. He enjoyed taking conformation groups on exciting adventures from Lake Junaluska to the Washington D.C. National Cathedral. During his years of serving churches he performed many baptisms, both on infants and in more non-traditional locations, such as hospitals or even the Rappahannock River. He performed a generation’s worth of weddings, from the most elegant to the simplest with only the couple and their two witnesses, and he thought each was the perfect wedding. He continued performing these activities in his retirement, he stepped into many pulpits to allow ministers to take vacations or leave of absence for family matters. His most recent 8 month appointment in Warsaw was a delightful experience, during his time there he was blessed with another church family. There are numerous ways both small and large he touched people's lives. His love for God; our Savior Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, and all people is an example for each of us to live by.
The family request in lieu of flowers donations will be appreciated to the Bethel Emmanuel Scholarship Fund. P.O. Box 118, Lively, Va 22507
Mollusk - Larry E Adams 78, of Mollusk passed away suddenly at his home on December 21, 2022.
He was born on September 21, 1944 to the late Peyton and Nita Ray Adams. He leaves behind his loving wife Karen Adams; sons, Clark Adams (Miranda), Christian Adams (Heidi), Clay Adams (Nida); daughters Kasey Donahue (Derek), Karlie Philips (Bryan); Grandchildren, Delaney, Sydney, Josie, Avery, Makenna, Isabella and Nicholas Adams, Jarvis, Kolbey and Kelsey Donahue, Kylie and Kinzlie Philips. He is also survived by a brother Alvin Adams (Tammy) and sisters Eugenia Felder and Carol Schwager (John) and many nephews and nieces.
Larry received his Bachelor of Arts from Millsaps College in Mississippi. He then continued his academic journey at Duke University to obtain a Master of Divinity, between his second and third year of studies at Duke University he entered a program to become a missionary in Rhodesia now the country of Zimbabwe for a year. Then returning to North Carolina to complete his studies at Duke University Divinity school. In the middle of his ministerial career he returned to academic life and received a Doctor of Ministry degree from The Wesley Theological Seminary of The United Methodist Church.
Upon completing the Master of Divinity program at Duke University, Larry participated in a Duke partnership program and served the Auld Kirk of Ayr as an Assistant Minister in Ayr, Scotland. Upon returning to Mississippi he was ordained in the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church. His first appointment was at Broadmeadow U.M.C. as an Associate Minister in Jackson, Mississippi. His second was with Wesleyanna U.M.C. and Monterey U.M.C. Charge as Minister in Star, Mississippi. In 1975 he transferred to the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. His first appointment in Virginia was serving Cheriton U.M.C. and Oyster U.M.C. Charge as Minister on the Eastern Shore. He later was appointed to Oak Grove U.M.C. as Minister in Chesapeake, Virginia. His next appointment in Virginia was at Bethel U.M.C. and Emmanuel U.M.C. Charge as Minister in Lancaster County. Then he was appointed to Warwick Memorial U.M.C. as Senior Minister in Newport News, Virginia. His last appointment before retirement was at Aldersgate U.M.C. as Senior Minister, currently known as New Creation U.M.C., in Chesapeake, Virginia. Larry liked to say, “All of my Virginia appointments were within a ten mile radius of the Chesapeake Bay.”.
After retiring in 2007, Larry moved back to Lancaster County of Virginia. He enjoyed his boat, fishing and crabbing from his dock. He was the proudest of Grandfathers attending baseball games, field hockey games, softball games, golf tournaments, dance recitals, soccer games, basketball games, track meets, choral performances, and swim lessons. He often shared his hope to have a dozen Grandchildren and this summer received that blessing, Nicholas Joseph Adams.
Larry had promised his boys that he would write a book about his childhood memories of Summit, Mississippi. One of his greatest accomplishments in retirement was completing and publishing that memoir “Sounds of Summit” in 2021. In 2022, he attended the renowned Mississippi Book Festival in Jackson. The fourteen day round trip journey included visiting many members of family and friends throughout the states he traveled.
During his ministry he participated in various adventures like walking the state of Virginia, from the Chesapeake Bay to the West Virginia state line. There were many days on this walk he was accompanied by church members, a fellow pastor, and his son Clay. From 2000 to 2016 he enjoyed world travels with family and friends teaching about the faith communities, art, history, and culture of those places. He worked with the Boy Scout troops of his sons, going on many camping and hiking events. Later he worked with Boy Scout troops in the many communities he lived in. He enjoyed taking conformation groups on exciting adventures from Lake Junaluska to the Washington D.C. National Cathedral. During his years of serving churches he performed many baptisms, both on infants and in more non-traditional locations, such as hospitals or even the Rappahannock River. He performed a generation’s worth of weddings, from the most elegant to the simplest with only the couple and their two witnesses, and he thought each was the perfect wedding. He continued performing these activities in his retirement, he stepped into many pulpits to allow ministers to take vacations or leave of absence for family matters. His most recent 8 month appointment in Warsaw was a delightful experience, during his time there he was blessed with another church family. There are numerous ways both small and large he touched people's lives. His love for God; our Savior Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, and all people is an example for each of us to live by.
The family request in lieu of flowers donations will be appreciated to the Bethel Emmanuel Scholarship Fund. P.O. Box 118, Lively, Va 22507