William Adams

Mr. William Baylor Adams, age 76, of Wardell, Virginia, passed away Wednesday, November 16, 2005 in a Kingsport, TN hospital. He was born May 3, 1929 at "Whitehall," The Plains, Virginia and was the son of the late Nicholas Floyd Adams and Flora Baylor Adams. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers, Dr. N. Floyd Adams, James T. Adams, Thomas T. Adams, John B. Adams, Dr. Samuel T. Adams; two sisters, Pauline Cummings and Mame Woodward; and beloved uncle, Sam E. Baylor. After graduating from the first grade at The Plains Elementary School with much pomp and circumstance, William continued his education at Tazewell High School where he was a multi-sport letterman as well as a founding member of the Woman Haters Club. He attended the University of the South and was treasurer of the ATO Fraternity. Bill answered a call from the United States Marine Corps with which he served with distinction during the Korean War. Returning home he owned and operated Barberry Farm in Broad Run, Virginia, Wardell Farm in Wardell, Virginia, Wardell Ham House in Bluefield, Virginia, the Wardell Store, and he opened the Highland Bull Pub in Wardell, ,Virginia. He was an Agency Manager for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Insurance Agency and was engaged in the golf course construction business, building courses in several states, including the Hermitage Golf Course in Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Adams was a member of the Richlands Lions Club and past president of the Richlands Rotary Club, the Tazewell County Farm Bureau Federation, and the Southern States Corporation of Tazewell, Virginia. He was a proud member of the Marine Corps League Detachment 980 of Richlands, Virginia and a Deacon of the Richlands Presbyterian Church. Survivors are: His Wife: Mary Gillespie Adams Two Daughters: Molly Hemsworth and husband, George of Winston Salem, North Carolina Flora Sherrod and husband, Bruce of Shelbyville, KY Two Sons: Nick Adams of Wardell, Virginia Will Adams of Tazewell, Virginia Grandchildren: Dee, Elisabeth, Matthew, and Will Hemsworth and Mary Hamlin, Olivia, Robert, and Flora Sherrod. The family of William Baylor Adams welcomes everyone to an open house at his home in Wardell, Virginia Sunday, November 20, 2005 from 7:00pm-9:00pm. A memorial celebration will be held at his home in Wardell, Virginia Monday, November 21, 2005 at 3:00pm. Memorial contributions may be made to: Historic Crab Orchard Museum, Rt. 1 Box 194, Tazewell, Virginia 24651; Marine Corps League Detachment 980, P.O. Box 980, Cedar Bluff, Virginia 24609; and Southwest Virginia Community College Educational Foundation, attn: Mary Lawson, P.O. Box SVCC, Richlands, Virginia 24641

William Adams

May 3, 1929 - November 16, 2005