Dougherty County, Georgia - J. D. Adams 2001 Submitted by Debra Boswell Crosby April 2002 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ ** J.D. Adams Albany J.D. Adams, 74, of 417 Whippoorwill Rd., Albany, GA, died Monday October 22 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, GA. The funeral service will be at 10 AM Thursday at Byne Memorial Baptist Church. Dr. C. Michael Gravette and Dr. Melvin Wise will officiate. Interment services Thursday, 5 PM, at Evergreen Memorial Park in Athens, GA. Dr. Spurgeon will officiate. J.D. was born at home October 25, 1926 in Waynesboro, GA to the late John David Adams, Sr. and Mary Swint Adams. A born businessman, he began at the age of 12 selling The Grit, Cloverine Salve, and Lancaster County Seeds from door to door. He was a 1943 graduate of Wrens High School in Wrens, GA. In 1944, he went to work for Orkin Exterminators in Augusta and held numerous positions with the company through 1970. He began classes at the University of Georgia in September of 1944. In December of 1945, he served in the Army Air Corps and served 14 months with an honorable discharge. He resumed classes at UGA and joined Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. He graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor's degree in Business and continued his career with Orkin in Athens, GA. J.D. was Vice-President of the Athens Jaycees in the 1950's. During this time, he became a Deacon and Sunday School Director at Talmadge Heights Baptist Church in Athens, GA. In 1957, J.D. married Mary Naomi Hays. She preceded him in death in 1991. His subsequent positions with Orkin sent him to Atlanta, GA, Nashville, TN, and finally to Albany, GA where in 1971, he opened Adams Exterminators, Inc. J.D. served as a member of the Structural Pest Control Association from 1977 through 1989 and was co-chairman of the Georgia Pest Control Association Building Committee. He worked tirelessly to advance the pest control industry and willingly lent his support to any project that would promote ethics and professionalism. He was an active member of the Exchange Club of Albany from 1971 until 2001. J.D. served as president of the Exchange Club of Albany in 1984-85, was a founding member of the Northwest Exchange Club in Albany, and was a key organizer of the Blue Grass Festival. Mr. Adams was a member of Byne Memorial Baptist Church since 1973, served as deacon and was a member of the building committee, the Byne Baptist School Board, and the Open Door Sunday School Class. A philanthropist, he served on the boards of Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital Lights of Love, Albany Community Hospice, and the Albany Symphony Orchestra. He was also a contributor to the University of Georgia Athletic Association and was a loyal Bulldog fan. In 1994, he sold his company, Adams Exterminators and enjoyed traveling and spending time at his cabin on Lake Chatuge in Hayesville, NC during his retirement. Survivors include his wife since 1999, Beverly Boone McCool Adams and her son, Robert Lee McCool of Albany; a daughter, Karen Adams-Dimery and her husband Stuart of Hayesville, NC; a sister, Mary Ruth Davis and her husband Horace of Athens, GA; 2 grandchildren; Matthew and John David Dimery of Hayesville, NC. Those desiring please make memorials to Albany Community Hospice, P.O. Box 1828, Albany, GA 31702 or Arise and Build, c/o Byne Memorial Baptist Church, 2832 Ledo Road, Albany, GA 31707. The family will receive friends at Kimbrell-Stern Wednesday from 7 PM till 8:30 PM. Athens Banner-Herald, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2001 Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Wednesday, October 24, 2001