William Anthony Adams, Jr.

William Anthony Adams, Jr., affectionately known as Bill to family and friends, was born on June 10, 1932 to the late William Anthony Adams, Sr. and Gladys Devall Adams in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was the oldest of three children. His sibling Samuel Adams preceded him in death. Bill was educated in private schools in New Orleans, Louisiana. He attended Gilbert Academy and graduated from De La Salle High School. He earned cash cooking in the French quarters while in high school. Bill furthered his education at Southern University in Baton Rouge, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Education. He was a Veteran of the United States Air Force and participated in the drawdown of the Korean War. Bill was honorably discharged as a Staff Sargent in July 1955. He continued serving his country in the Civil Service where he worked under Admiral Poindexter on the Admiral staff. He retired in 1990 from the United States Navy Chief of Naval Education and Training Division culminating a 37-year career. Bill married the love of his life, Yvonne Bunch, on July 22, 1955, the day after he received his discharge from the Air Force. To their union were born three children, Gerald, Cheryl and Darryl. Bill was active in the Civil Rights Movement. He was instrumental in the integration of the Biloxi, Mississippi beach. On April 24, 1960, he was arrested with other activists who stormed the Biloxi beach after a series of “wade-in” protests. He was working at the Keesler Air Force base at that time. Bill was a life member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He received his Fifty Years Golden Pin in 2004. He was also honored as Brother of the Year in 2004 by the Epsilon Mu Lambda Chapter of Pensacola, Florida, where he was an active member until he relocated to Fairburn, Georgia in 2010. He was also a member of the 100 Black Men of Pensacola and was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for his valuable contributions in 1992. Bill was a faithful member of Saint Matthew Catholic Church of Tyrone, where he loved gathering for mass on Saturday evenings with his church family. Bill will be sorely missed and is survived by his loving wife of sixty-four years, Yvonne Bunch Adams; three children, Gerald Adams and wife Salome of Reno, Nevada, Cheryl Bell and husband Dennis of Arlington, Texas, Darryl Adams and wife Ginger of Conyers, Georgia; sister, Barbara Adams Joseph and husband Israel of Springfield, New Jersey; grandchildren George Lutu, Ted Lutu, Jennifer Bell Todd and husband Zander, Marika Bell Cannon and husband Jesse, Ayla Bell, Lawson Adams, Trevor Adams, Braelyn Adams, and Kyleigh Adams; great-grandchildren, Aden Todd, Amaya Todd, Clair Cannon and Collin Cannon; sister in-laws Annette Mosley Patrick, Sharon Ann Brown and husband Nathan; Special friends, Nadine Lane, Barbara Oliver, Rusty and Shirley Davis, Carmen Page and Catherine Page, and Carolyn Travis. A funeral service will be held Friday, December 6, 2019 at 11 o’clock in the Chapel of Parrott Funeral Home with Father Kevin Hargaden officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at Parrott Funeral Home & Crematory, 770-964-4800.

William Anthony Adams, Jr.

July 10, 1932 - November 28, 2019