Dale County AlArchives Obituaries.....Adams, Jesse B. November 8 1952 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Christine Grimes Thacker http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00033.html#0008100 June 2, 2004, 10:25 am The Southern Star, Nov. 13, 1952 THE SOUTHERN STAR 45 YEARS AGO, NOVEMBER 13, 1952.. Reprinted. November 12,1997-24 30 Is Written For Southern Star Editor,Legislator, Business and Civic Leader JESSE BRANTLY ADAMS, 50, editor of the Southern Star, and widely known legislator died at 5:45 Saturday morning, November 8 in the Dale County Hospital following a brief illness. His death came as a great shock to his family and many friends throughout the State On Wednesday night, Mr. Adams was stricken with pneumonia and was admitted to the Dale County Hospital Thursday morning when his condition immediately became grave. In addition to the family physician, a specialist was called in and it appeared tor awhile that their efforts would be awarded with success. Early Saturday morning he appeared to be resting easier and was in good spirits, but a sudden turn for worse developed which took his life. He is survived by his wife Mrs. Frances Lacey Adams, a daughter, Mrs. Charles Woods of Camp Cook, Calif., a son, John Q. Adams, of Birmingham, his mother, Mrs. Vivian Brantly Adams, 2 brothers, William P. Adams of Tuscaloosa and John Q. Adams of Ozark and one granddaughter, Frances Ellen Woods. Born In Ozark on June 16, 1902 as the eldest son of the late John. Q. Adams and Mrs. Vivian Brantly Adams, he had long been identified throughout Alabama in business, civic and political circles. Since the age of ten he had played an active part in publishing the Star and at his fathers death in 1925 he became one ot the youngest editors in the State. In 1927 was awarded the Victor Hanson Cup for outstanding Community Service At the time of his death he was editor of the Star and was, serving as Clerk for the City of Ozark. He also was serving his second term as Dale County's representative in the Alabama Legislature having during several years acted as assistant clerk for this legislative body. A former Postmaster of Ozark, having served In this capacity for 12 years. A past president of the Alabama Press Association and during his administration the Field Manager plan was inaugurated. He was a past president of the Kiwanis Club of Ozark and the Dale County Chamber of Commerce, and for many years served as member of the Ozark City School Board. During the organization period of the Dale County Hospital Board, Mr. Adams served as secretary to the Executive Committee. He was a Mason and Shriner. The funeral service was held Monday morning at the Methodist Church of which he was a member and a Steward with the Rev. Charles B. Liddell and the Rev. D. P. Slaughter officiating. Burial was in the family plot in Westview Cemetery with Holman Funeral Home in Charge. Active pall bearers were members of the Ozark Police Department, J. H. Searcy, James Connell, Randolph Wilkerson, Chester Head, Randall Sellers, William I. Gary, Lewie Frank Snellgrove, Glenn Culberson, Bryant Slay and; Honorary Pall bearers were members of the Board of Stewards Ozark Methodist Church, Mayor Douglas Brown and Citv Councilmen Garner Smith, Louie Tamplin, Noel G. Andrews, Henry Byrd and Tom A Godd, together with all employees of the City, E. G. Moseley, Frank Dykes, Bill Brown, Jack Windham, Sam Y. Carroll, E. R. Phillips, Jr.. Grover Peebles, W. 0. Mills, Paul Hutto, Pete Sims, Jake Levy, Mike Sollie, Bob Goodwyn, Clyde C. Sellers, Sim Thomas, Wallace Malone, John Allen Crook, L. Gardner Bassett, Roland R. Faulk, Emory Solomon, George C. Wallace, Congressman George Andrews, Gus Borders Tom Novak and Lawrence Andrews. Editorial Yes, it is difficult to trace these words with a trembling hand caused by a broken heart for a brother whom I loved so dearly and who guided me from a gangly boy to manhood is no more—Jesse Adams is dead! Jesse, the brother, the son. the father, the editor, linotype operator, printer, the mixer, the politician, the diplomat, fun-loving, jolly natured, tireless Jesse went to meet his God just with the breaking of dawn Saturday, November 8, 1952. Standing immediately in the shadow of my great sorrow, the tremendous, outstanding thought revolving in my consciousness is an accute sense of my loss. All else seems vague, indistinct and inconsequential, yet, through the haze breaks the knowledge of a duty which has fallen on me. A duty to the living and to the dead. So suddenly and so cruelly has the mantle fallen upon me that my unpreparedness is the more accentuated, and were it not for the priceless heritage left to me by those who have labored here and gone on, the staggering enormity of task would balk me. But more than three quarters of a century of friendship begun by my grandfather added to and accentuated through the years by my uncle, my father and brother, as each in turn took up the burden, gives me faith and gives me hope that I too, may carry on as they did. For the sake of all that is past, I feel that it is not asking too much of you, to ask you to continue your loyalty and friendship to me and my dear mother who has been our inspiration through the years. JOHN Q. ADAMS. ~~~~~ Jesse B. Adams Who was this man, Jesse B. Adams? He was my friend, and he was the friend of every man who sought his help or his friendship. It was my privilege to first know Jesse in 1925. At the time I was a soda jerker in Jimmerson's drug store, 13 years of age, and Jesse was a young man 23 years of age. One day he asked me If I wanted to work with the Star, and I thought I did so I began working In the Star office. My work there lasted only a few months, but I began to know Jesse and. Miss Vivian. Many years passed from 1926 to 1948, and our paths crossed many times. Jesse and I were friends because our families were friends and events threw us together during these years, but the real beginning of our friendship was in 1948. I had been elected Mayor and I was looking about for some person to be Clerk of the City. I will never forget the time when Jesse and I were standing in our drug store talking to my father when he turned and asked me who was going to be the City Clerk, and I asked him to put in his application and talk to the council. He was surprised, but for me it was the begining of four full rich years, and a fortunate answer to my need. The Council saw fit to elect him City Clerk, and I will always be grateful that this happened for me. During this four years I learned Jesse Adams; I found him to be a loyal, kind and generous friend; I found him to be a diplomat of the first order; I found him to be a kindly sensitive man to the needs of others; I found him to be a loving and devoted husband and father; I found him to be the friend of the common man, and willing at all times to do every thing in his power to help any person who called upon him. I found in Jesse devotion to his family, and a willingness to die for The Southern Star and his people. He gave himself completely and wholeheartedly to the City of Ozark, Dale County and The Southern Star. These things were Jesse. It Is not my desire to paint here in glowing terms a perfect man. Jesse had his faults, but the most of his faults were caused by a need for more hours in the day to do all of the things that needed to be done. Something may have suffered because of a lack of time, but it was not because of a lack of desire to do all that he was called upon to do—there just wasn't time. Jesse was not an old man. but he had done the work of a man of seventy in his span of fifty years. He lived a full life, and I daresay that if he had it to live over that he wouldn't live it differently. He gave all that he had to living life— who could give more? Jesse had his share of honors for one so young—Representative from Dale County in the Legislature for two terms— Postmaster in Ozark for many years— Editor of The Southern Star— President of the Chamber of Commerce— President of the Kiwanis Club— Mason—Shrlner— Steward of the Methodist Church—Assistant Clerk of the House of Representatives— these and many others were his. Did the honors change the man? NO. Jesse became more humble with each honor. He never lost his balance and could always take his place with the great and the small, and it could never be said that he felt himself any better than anyone else. It would be a fair appraisal of him to say that he could have done any thing he set his mind to do—Governor— Senator or what have you. He had the ability, but he never desired greatness. His only desire was for a happy home—a great newspaper in The Southern Star—a great city and county— and an opportunity to laugh with his friends. I think he had what he wanted in life. I think he was happy. I am content to think that he has gone on to a better life. The expression that the prophet Is never recognized at home is aptly applied in the case of Jesse. We didn't know how great a person he was while he was with us, but I predict that we will never find one to fill his shoes. I like to remember his genial smile—his fondness for a good story—his love for his son and his daughter and grand daughter—his love and respect for his mother—his wlllngness to sacrifice himself to carry on the traditions of his family in The Southern Star—his willingness to over look critcism and the hurt of some disloyal friend—his deep desire to be a friend to man. I would like to think that I had said my thanks to him often enough for him to know that his sacrifice for me was not in vain. Good night Jesse until to-morrow. DOUGLAS BROWN. Additional Comments: photo link http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/dale/photos/ph345jesseban.jpg Joseph A, Joseph H. & john Q. Adams http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/dale/photos/ph344josephaj.jpg Joseph H. Adams Sketch http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/dale/photos/gph195adamsjos.jpg File located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/dale/obits/a/adams201gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 10.4 Kb