Mary Hamilton Adams passed away Saturday, February 18, 2023, peacefully at her home.
She was born on March 18, 1931, in Harris, to John Wesley Hamilton and Mae Planck Hamilton.
Growing up in and around Vanceburg, Mary enjoyed her brothers and especially her only sister, Naomi. When her family moved to Lexington, her friend Karlene introduced her to her brother Paul. They married on June 17, 1949, and began a journey together. Paul was trained as a hair stylist in New York City while Mary trained in Lexington. Together they owned and managed many hair salons and beauty schools. Mary was quite a business woman, managing the books and running the businesses successfully. She loved teaching in beauty schools and she was loved and respected by her students. After Roger’s birth and still in their young twenties, Mary and Paul joined with six other parents and they were instrumental in founding the Bluegrass Foundation for Mentally Retarded Children; it still exists today as ARC of the Bluegrass. Paul eventually had a stroke and was bedridden for over 17 years. Mary was faithful in caring for him all those years while working. He was truly the love of her life and she was completely devoted to him.
The other loves of her life were her three sons, Roger, Jon David, and Tim. The boys recall breaking ice on the pond before school so the horses could drink and that their mother always had a hot breakfast for them. She set high expectations for behavior and the boys remember sideways glances in church and sometimes a little pinch on their leg if they were not behaving. Roger especially feared the dreaded pinch. She ruled with an iron fist in a velvet glove. What a legacy she has left her sons and grandchildren; one of unconditional love, integrity, loyalty, faith, and love of family.
Mary loved to knit and every new baby in the family got a beautiful blanket made with love. She made afghans for everyone she knew and they are treasured by many. In her eighties she was a Book Buddy for the library; she would deliver books to the elderly and shut ins. She said she liked to do that for “old people.” One of Mary’s favorite things was having the entire family in her small townhome for dinner. She was renowned for her fried chicken, fudge, and pecan tarts.
Mary’s brother Tom mentioned recently that she was truly a lady without guile. Never were truer words spoken. Mary had malice toward no one and everyone who knew her loved her. She was a faithful servant in her church carrying out her responsibilities and duties with grace. Her faith in God was unshakable, she was a true witness of God’s love. We will miss her.
She is survived by two sons, Jonathan David (Miriam) Adams and Timothy Gael (Monica) Adams; brother, Thomas (Bonnie) Hamilton; sister-in-law and best friend, Karlene Adams Fugazzi; brother-in-law, David (Lisa) Adams; grandchildren, Ashley Adams Tabor, Jessica (Jeff) Adams Holtry, Jason (Lilly) Adams, Alison (Jesse) Adams Thompson, Vivi (Stephen) Adams Crooks, Andrew James Adams, James (Krystal) Adams, Ashley (Jeffrey) Baker, and Melanie Correa. Mary is also survived by 14 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews who adored her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Edward Adams; her beloved son, Roger Allen Adams; brothers, Joseph, Samuel, David, and Paul; and her sister, Naomi.
The Adams and Hamilton families are grateful for the servant hearts of grandchildren, Vivi and Stephen Crooks and for their extraordinary love and care given to Grandmommy.
Services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 25, 2023, at Globe Family Funeral Chapel in Camp Dix. Burial will follow in the Hamilton Mawk Cemetery in Lewis County.
