Obituary of Frank Adams

FRANCIS BLACKFORD ADAMS, Jr, 74, passed away here on Friday, June 11, 2005, after a long battle with emphysema. Known as Frank to family and friends and ‘Frere’ to his sister, he was born in Baltimore, the son of the late Annie Young and Francis Blackford Adams. He attended St. Paul’s School, where he won a choir scholarship and in the eighth grade, the prestigious choir medal, presented at St. Paul’s Church. He later attended Gilman School and was graduated from St. James School. Frank studied at the University of Virginia and Johns Hopkins University, but fading eyesight caused by a hereditary disease eventually forced him to drop out. Legally blind he worked in radio for a while before resuming studies with the help of his first wife Mary Marvel Adams. He eventually graduated from the American University Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications. After college, he worked at Price Modern in Baltimore as a sales associate in the office design department. Moving to the Outer Banks in 1980, real estate became his new vocation there and he enjoyed entertaining visiting friends and family. Frank was never at a loss for a good story and friends and family will remember him fondly for the gallant sense of humor that kept them laughing even in his final illness. Gifted with a love of singing and a beautiful baritone voice, Frank became one of the founding members of the Barbershop Chorus of the Outer Banks. He and his second wife, Jean Mason Adams, were active member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Southern Shores where Frank sang in the choir until recently. Frank’s first marriage ended in divorce, and his second wife predeceased him. He is survived by his sister, Anne Adams Coulbourn of Baltimore; a son Francis Blackford Adams III of Huddleston, VA; a daughter, Jennifer Adams Bortnick of Southern Shores and three grandchildren, Robyn Elizabeth Adams, Kent Edward Jacobs and Matthew Marvel Jacobs. He is also survived by a dear friend, Susan Tower, who attended him lovingly in his final illness. A memorial service to celebrate Frank’s life will be held at All Saints’ Church in Southern Shores on June 28th at 5:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations maybe made to either the American Lung Association, 61 Broadway, New York, NY, 10006 or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 50, Memphis, TN, 38101. Twiford’s Funeral Home, Manteo, assisted the family.