Obituary of Samuel Adams

Samuel C Adams Laurens Samuel Charles Adams, age 85, went to be with the Lord August 17, 2010, from the National Health Center, Laurens, South Carolina. Sam was born on February 16, 1925, in Rolf, West Virginia. He served in the United States Navy during World War II on the USS West Virginia. He loved to tell his children and grandchildren about his adventures on the ship and was proud to have been in the battle at Iwo Jima where he saw the Marines plant the American flag. Upon discharge from the Navy in 1946, Sam moved with his family from West Virginia to Marion, where he met and married Wilma Parks. Sam worked for the Town of Marion for 37 years, first as a meter reader and then as superintendent of the water and sewage systems for Marion. He often remarked that he had done almost every job for the Town except work on trash collection. So on his last day with the Town he was honored to ride on the trash truck. Sam was scoutmaster of Troop 96, Boy Scouts of America, and received the honor of being inducted into the Order of the Arrow. He loved all the members of his scout troop and was proud of their accomplishments. In addition to being active at Laurens Pentecostal Holiness Church, Sam acted as a Big Brother and was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4667. Sam was preceeded in death by his wife, of 48 years, Wilma Fay Parks Adams, his father and mother, Dave and Fannie Pennington Adams, two sisters Nina Mae Poston and Rachel Jane Murray, and two brothers Herbert Franklin and Daniel Andrew Adams, as well as two brothers-in-law, Marvin Murray and Lenford Hicks. Sam is survived by his wife of 14 years, Juanita Mattison Adams. Sam and his wife, Wilma, and Juanita and her husband J.D. met when both couples were enrolled at Holmes Bible College in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1949. Sam and Juanita and their children were blessed of God to be brought back together in 1995. They made their home in Laurens, South Carolina. One sister, Hazel Hicks of Abingdon, two sisters-in-law, Lorraine Hash of Dublin and Sue McAllister of Marion and three brothers-in-law, Roy Parks and wife, Louise, James Poston of Marion and Paul Mattison and wife Sandra, of Laurens, and one uncle, Roy Pennington and wife, Maggie of Marion also survive. Other survivors include one son, Roger Adams, and his wife Libby Hyland Adams of Goose Creek, South Carolina; two daughters, Marcia and her husband John D. Tilson, of Marion, and Karen Allison of Kingsport, Tennessee. Six grandchildren, Stephen Tilson, of Dalton, GA, Christopher Adams and his wife Eileen, of Charleston, SC, Emily Adams Bostian and husband, Thad, of Goose Creek, Douglas Allison, Whitney Allison, both of Kingsport and Caris Tilson Holliman and husband Jeffrey, of Chattanooga, TN, also survive. Sam is survived by five great-grandchildren, Harlan and Ben Adams, Emma Grace and Michael Bostian, and Beatrix Holliman. . Sam is also survived by four stepchildren, Ronnie Riddle and wife, Donna, of Lebanon, Wanda VandeLinde and husband Tony, of Charlotte, Steve Riddle and wife Alitia, of Laurens, and Donna Riddle of Laurens, along with seven step-grandchildren and eleven step-great-grandchildren. He left behind a many nieces and nephews and cousins as well as a host of friends in Marion and Laurens. A funeral service will be held at The Kennedy Mortuary Chapel in Laurens on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at 3:00 pm with Pastor Brian Brock officiating. Visitation will be held at The Kennedy Mortuary one hour prior to the service. A funeral service will be held at the Seaver Brown Funeral Home in Marion, VA on Friday, August 20, 2010 at 2:00 pm with Pastor Tom Sullivan officiating and visitation will be from 12:30 to 2:00 pm before the service. Burial will follow at Rose Lawn Cemetery and Military rites will be provided by VFW Post 4667. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Samaritan's Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607, or online at www.samaritanspurse.org or by calling 1- 800-528-1980, ext. 1382 or to the Laurens Pentecostal Holiness Church, P.O. Box 352, Laurens, SC 29360. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is serving the Adams Family.