Harry E. Adams

Harry E. Adams, 60, of 112 Fairway Drive, Black Mountain, died Saturday, November 23, 2002, following a period of declining health. Born on April 30, 1942, he was a native of Buncombe County and the son of the late Ralph Adams and Thelma Lancaster and the grandson of the late Spurgeon and Mae Rhymer Sluder. Mr. Adams is survived by his wife of 30 years, Cecelia Wyrick Adams; daughter, Teresa A. Parsons and husband Chris of Asheville; sons Sheldon M. Adams and wife Mary Jo of Black Mountain and Seth M. Adams and wife Laurie of Topsham, ME; four grandchildren, Kaitlyn Parsons, Lucas, Sydney and Michael Adams; two step-grandchildren, Danielle and A.J. Kavanaugh; two sisters, Leah Mae Embler and Linda Rae Hamer of Asheville and mother-in-law, Mildred M. Wyrick of Black Mountain. He was a member of Black Mountain United Methodist Church having served on the Administrative Board, PPR Committee, choir member and usher. He was educated in the Asheville City Schools and attended many courses in municipal government. He retired from the City of Asheville after serving as Safety Director for 10 years, Code Enforcement Officer for 2 years and City Firefighter for 10 years. He was also an administrative liaison for the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Deptartment for 8 years. Active in many areas of civic and political life, Mr. Adams served as Alderman for the Town of Black Mountain from 1989 to 2001, four of those years as Vice-Mayor. He was extremely proud to have served on the Town Board during the years of establishing the present Public Safety Building, the Town Recreation Park, the beautification of Lake Tomahawk and many other improvements to the town and community. He won many awards in the Jaycee Organization, serving as president of the Asheville Jaycees, 1975-76, outstanding local President of the NC Jaycees 1976, State Vice-President 1977 and Vice President of the US Jaycee Senate 1982. He was listed in Who’s Whos in America 1976-77. Mr. Adams was a present or past member of the Black Mountain Lions Club, Black Mountain Golf Course, Black Mountain Moose Lodge, Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce, Black Mountain Masonic Lodge, NC State Firefighter’s Association, The Owen Foundation, Community Resource Council, Black Mountain Correctional Center for Women, Black Mountain Community Endowment Fund, Asheville Shrine Club, a 3rd Degree Mason, Scottish Rite and Oasis Temple AAONMS. He served on the Board of Directors with the Asheville Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Buncombe County, American Red Cross, Quality Forward, Western NC Safety Council, Land-of-the-Sky Regional Council and NC Department of Transportation. Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Tuesday at Black Mountain United Methodist Church with the Revs. Gerald Collins and Rick Mills officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain View Memorial Park. Pall bearers will be Walter C. Dillingham, John Parris, Bob Thompson, Herb Edwards, Al Richardson and Gary Bartlett. The family will receive friends from 7:00-9:00 pm Monday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue and other times will be at the residence. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 120 Executive Park, Building 1, Asheville, NC 28801, the American Lung Association, PO Box 2702, Asheville, NC 28802 or Black Mountain United Methodist Church, 101 Church Street, Black Mountain, NC 28711.