John Louis Adams, Sr.

The life of John L. Adams, Sr. came to a close on Monday, May 23, 2022, at Courtyard Gardens Health & Rehabilitation Center in Arkadelphia, AR. He was born Thursday, July 1, 1943, in Sheridan, Arkansas, to the union of Prince L. Adams and Ethel Mae Nulls-Adams.

John gave his life to Christ at a young age and was a member of the New Director Baptist Church in Perla, Arkansas. Later he became a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Okolona, Arkansas. John met the love of his life Maxine Thomas, and they were married on March 20, 1964.

John was a 1964 graduate of Wilson High School in Malvern, Arkansas. For many years, John was employed by the International Paper Company in Gurdon, Arkansas. John loved to drive and take family members and friends from state-to-state to visit loved ones. His hobbies included watching his favorite NFL team, the Green Bay Packers and the Arkansas Razorbacks. He also enjoyed the western channel with his favorite actor being John Wayne. He enjoyed listening to the Commodores in his spare time, as well as fishing with family and friends. John’s all-time favorite snacks were his daily Sugar Daddy. It does not matter how he felt, he always wanted his Sugar Daddy.

John has a personality that left a lasting impression on everyone he met. His laughter and humor will be missed by many.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Prince L. Adams and Ethel Mae Nulls-Adams; wife, Maxine Adams; grandson, John Alfred Adams, and sisters, Shirley Woods and Dorothy Jean “Doll” Watkins Davis.

His passing leaves a void in the hearts of those that knew and loved him.

He leaves three children, Dale Thomas (Mattie), of Texarkana, AR; John Adams, Jr. (Alma), of Texarkana, AR and Lisa Adams (Robert) of Arkadelphia, AR; eight grandchildren, Remond Thomas, Lakenya Thomas, Jakeela Thomas, Kyndra Stafford, Heather Scoggins, Tia Gulley, John Adams, III, Christian Adams; 11 great-grandchildren, Shakira Thomas, Tanea Thomas,  Malik Jones, Ariel Thomas, Diamond Jones, Kirstyn Greene, Treyden Greene, Ka’Miah Thomas, Malaysia McKnight and three great-great-grandchildren, Ava Adams, Kyrie Jones and Mila Shelton. He leaves one sister Christine Murdock of Chicago, IL; one brother Raymond “Evelyn” Adams of Perla, AR; two sister-in-laws, Lois Johnson of Brunswick, GA, and Charlene Leeper of Okolona, AR; two brother-in-laws, Rufus Wood, Sr. of El Dorado, AR, and Charles “Doris” Thomas of Flint, MI; special friends, Mae Sue Williams, Shirley McDaniel, Willie “Tator” McDaniel, and Carol Jean White; those he raised as his own, Zaire Lay, Ethan Waters, James Kelly, Ionna McGhee, and a host of special nieces and nephews.

Submitted by the Adams Family.

Visitation will be Friday, June 3, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Services will be at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Rufus Hatley, officiating on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Pleasant Grove Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Derrick Beard, Kendall McDaniel, Jason McDaniel, Henry McDaniel, Don Leeper, and Gregory McGhee. Honorary pallbearers will be Remond Thomas, Malik Jones, Braeden Thomas, Kenny Woods, Allen Burton, Calvin Lee, John Adams, III, Raymond Adams, Jr., and Darrell Highsmith.