Everett Donald Adams

Everett Donald Adams, age 77, of Lansing went to his heavenly home early Friday morning, January 14, 2022.

Everett was born on November 10, 1944 to the late Donald (1/26/1990) and Anna (better known as Annie) Sexton Adams (3/23/2020).  Everett was their only child and they never wavered in their doting with pride and joy of him from the day their bouncing baby boy was born.

Along with fellow Class of 1963 classmates, Everett graduated from Lansing High School.  The following week, he began working at Sprague Electric Company in Warrensville, NC.  He held various job positions for the next 43 years with Sprague until his retirement in 2005.  Following in his ancestor’s footsteps, he also was a 6th generation farmer on his family land, raising cattle and growing tobacco and beans until the late 1980’s.

One summer day while retrieving some loose cattle that had wandered over the hill, Everett would meet his first wife, Laura Cornett Adams.  They married the same year on December 19, 1965.  They were blessed with two children, Karen and Keith, and being able to share 34 years together before Laura’s passing on January 13, 2000.

He was lucky to have two loves of his life, meeting Sandra (better known as Sandy) Barker Adams in the spring and marrying on October 7, 2000.  He became a second dad to Sandy’s son, Brady, and would share the next 21 years in blissful marriage, never having an argument, as Sandy boasts.

Everett joined the Lansing Volunteer Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter in August of 1985.  He served as a Board of Director member before being voted in as the President of the Board of Directors.  He also served as Chaplain, as the Secretary/Treasurer, the Hazmat Officer, and Assistant Chief before being elected as Chief.  While serving as Chief, he led the Lansing Volunteer Fire Department to become Rescue Certified and would retire in June 2017 as the Chief of the newly titled, Lansing Volunteer Fire Rescue.  During this time, Everett also served as President of the Ashe County Fireman’s Association from 1998 to 2011.  He was proud of the numerous grants and projects he had been involved with that brought much needed funding to the Lansing community.  When Ashe Post and Times recognized him as the Volunteer of the Year, Everett was humbled and honored when receiving the award.

As a co-founder, Everett helped to get the Ashe County Honor Guard established in 2007.  He would later serve as its Commander from August 2015 to August 2021, at which time he stepped down from Commander but, still remained an active member.

Everett played an instrumental role in starting and developing the Lansing Creeper Trail Park.  Being an enthusiastic country and bluegrass music fan, he also helped to launch “Music in the Park” events, which become very popular, very quickly.

Nothing made him happier than to be up to mischief, with his jokes and playing pranks on family and friends.  He had never found anyone that could outdo him in eating his most beloved ghost peppers.  For anyone that tried, the battle would end with one of Everett’s infectious laughs as his opponent would have to bow out from the friendly competition.  Through the years, Everett had also been an avid bowler, playing on various bowling leagues. This cherished pastime began when he first joined a league while working at Sprague and lasted well beyond his retirement years up until the local bowling alley closed.

But, retirement from Sprague didn’t set well with Everett.  After sitting at home for four months, as he put it, he decided that just wasn’t his style and he became the local meat cutter at Lansing Foods in 2005, a job that he held until currently.  His co-workers could depend on him to be the first one there in the mornings and he would have the coffee brewed and waiting for them on his scheduled work days.

Everett had attended Silas Creek Baptist Church in his youth.  He later attended the West Jefferson Church of Christ serving as their Treasurer and Sunday School teacher.  He currently was a member of the Warrensville Baptist Church.

Everett was preceded in death by his parents, Don and Annie Adams and his first wife, Laura Cornett Adams.  He is survived by his wife, Sandy Barker Adams, a daughter, Karen Adams of Lansing, a son, Keith Adams of Pittsboro, NC, and a stepson, Brady (Kelly) Brown of Lansing.  Also surviving are his grandson, Tulsa Howell, his granddaughter, Jolie Tuttle, and step-grandson, Maverick Brown, all of Lansing.  He also leaves behind several cousins, numerous friends, work associates, fellow volunteers, and a host of stories and fond memories from anyone who knew him.

His children have always looked up to the exemplary example he provided of what having hard work ethic truly means and are proud of his involvement and accomplishments in the community as a whole.  They will forever treasure memories of having a home that was overfilled with love, joy, and lots of laughter while growing up.  He instilled in them his immense love of being mischievous, which he sometimes wholeheartedly regretted.  All his family and friends will sorely miss him but, we can all agree that he will now be getting the well deserved rest he has earned.

Funeral services will be held Friday, January 28, 2022 at 1:00 pm at Ashelawn Memorial Chapel by Rev. Larry Shepherd. Burial will follow in Ashelawn Memorial Gardens with Honor Guard rites.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at Ashelawn Memorial Chapel.

For everyone's safety, the family requires that masks be worn at all indoor services.

The family respectfully requests no food please. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ashe County Honor Guard, P.O. Box 135, West Jefferson, NC 28694.