John Jay Adams was born on August 12, 1946, in Wilmington, Delaware to Josephine Clavey and John Jay Adams. Raised in Wilmington, Delaware by his parents, his extended family included Aunts Edna, Sylvia, Gertrude (Trudy), and Uncle Robert. John is preceded in death by his Mother, Josephine Adams, his Father, John J. Adams Sr., and his younger Brother, Thomas E. Adams, whom preceded him in death after a tragic accident 42 years ago on October 21, 1980, an explosion caused by a gas leak that killed six people, and injured more than 30 people at the Amoco chemical plant south of New Castle. This sadly would become a lifetime of loss and disconnect for both him, and the entire family that is still felt to this day, and would greatly impact John throughout his life. John believed in doing what makes you happy, the freedoms of creativity, and had an affinity for horses, and dogs. John also loved the hobby of amateur Ham radio, listening to shortwave radio, listening to Jazz/Gospel music, and cooking. John was a Master Storyteller, but really enjoyed the art of listening, or merely having a word in passing. John struggled greatly with adversity throughout his life, and while perhaps misunderstood, or even criticized at times, his biggest regret was his loss of family, and the irrevocable damage, and estrangement it caused. In all of Johns faults however, he would go on to reconcile this loss, attempt to start over many times with hopes of bridging gaps with his beautiful children, and eventually find his way back home to Wilmington, Delaware for the last time. John took great pride, and joy in being connected with people, and the human condition with all its suffrage and hardship. John was honest by nature, he had integrity, and lived by solid principles and beliefs that would serve him, his family, his friends, or anyone that simply needed to be heard, comforted, or needed companionship. John was a devout Catholic throughout his life, he would eventually become an ordained minister, and would spend a great deal of his time going to hospitals, nursing homes, preaching the gospel, officiating marriages, and supporting that of the grieving, and delivering last rights to the dying.
After graduating from High School in 1964, John placed all intentions of pursuing further studies aside, and joined the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War Era. While serving four years, he was promoted to a five stripe technical sergeant (E5), and worked in Administration stationed at McCoy Air Force installation, a frontline Strategic Air Command base 10 miles Southeast of Orlando, Florida during the Cold War and Vietnam War in Orlando, Florida. John would go on to serve a tour of duty in Vietnam, and was attached to the Seventh U.S. Air Force, an extremely complex mission, function, and activities of the 2nd Air Division, which was activated two years into his service on March 28, 1966, and the Seventh Air Force was designated a combat command at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, the Air Component Command of Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. John completed his enlistment in 1968, and was awarded an Honorable Discharge, while being recognized with many awards, commendations, and recognition for his service. The reality of war, and the insidious nature of PTSD manifesting over time would take a great toll on John, and he would never be the same upon returning, but not before marrying Trenta "Jean" Gibson in 1968, and had their daughter, Christine Ann Adams in 1971, and their son Michael Wade Adams in 1974. Sadly, complex PTSD symptoms derailed his efforts in marriage, career pursuits, and attempts with simply transitioning back into civilian life.
John would spend the next 42 years in an effort to cope with his ongoing grief, loss, and the wages of war with an attempt to serve people, whether in the capacity of a beloved Sheriff's Deputy for Thomaston, Georgia, a creative Floral Designer in the heart of Wilmington, Delaware, or selflessly serving the great people of Wilmington, Delaware as a well respected ordained minister later in life. Over the years, John would often times reflect on some of his favorite scripture, notably 1 Peter 4:10-11, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.... If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ". John was very active among the City of Wilmington, Delaware, particularly that of the Catholic outreach charity and assistance programs, and the Diocese of Wilmington, St. Paul's Catholic Church, St. Benedict Outreach, and St. John, the beloved Catholic Church of Wilmington, Delaware.
There was no greater joy in life for John than his beautiful children, for which he was exceptionally proud, and particularly blessed with an ever growing family. John is survived by his ex-wife, Trenta "Jean" Stitt (Gibson), two children, Daughter, Christine Childs (Adams), Son-in-Law, Arthur Childs, and Son, Michael Adams, Daughter-in-Law, Jennifer Adams, two Grandchildren, Granddaughter Jameson Adams, Grandson Seamus Adams, Nieces Carly Fairfield (Adams), Maisie and Abigail Smith, Laura Adams, and Nephew Thomas Adams Jr. John's family is sadly fractured, and irrevocably estranged however, private celebrations of his life in memoriam is encouraged, and can be coordinated directly with the Delaware Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro, Delaware. John Jay Adams Jr. will be given full military honors upon his burial, and recognition for his Honorable service while in the U.S. Air Force, and a Veteran of the Vietnam War.