Carl D. Adams

ADAMS CARL DOUGLAS ADAMS Carl Douglas Adams, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, husband, community leader and activist, family historian, and passionate philanthropist died peacefully in his home the evening of January 30, 2011 in Winchester, Virginia surrounded by his family. He was 85. Douglas was born on December 23, 1925 and raised in the heart of Washington D.C., just doors down from the childhood home of Frederick Douglas, in Anacostia. His father, Carl Douglas Adams Sr, was a D.C. police officer and his mother, Margaret Franklin Megeath, a homemaker and volunteer. His brother, Robert Perrington Adams of Daytona Beach, FL predeceased him. He graduated with a B.A. in 1948 and J.D. in 1949 from the University of Virginia . It was at the university that his passion for civil rights was born, as well as his liberal religious beliefs through his association with the Unitarian Universalist Church. Douglas was a member of the Board of Directors of George Mason University 1983-1992, as well as Chairman of the Advisory Board, Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, George Mason University 1985-1991. He was active for many years in many ways with Burgundy Farm Country Day School and the Burgundy Center for Wildlife Studies. He was a member of the Virginia Council on Human Rights 1992-1993 and a active member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Shenandoah Valley. His professional life spanned over 60 years from his law practice that he started in 1949 in Annandale, VA to Winchester, VA where he was President of Adams-Legge Development Group, a family owned real estate development firm. His wife of 41 years, Fern Lorraine Legge Adams, and mother of his five children passed away in 1994. His second wife of 10 years, Kaye Nicholson, passed away in 2007. His son, Kevin Douglas, predeceased him. He is survived by his children, Ellen Adams of Amissville, VA; Garth Adams of Augusta, WV, Rebecca Leith Boyd of Stephens City, VA; and Sarah Adams Bell of Winchester, VA; and two step-children Rachel Nicholson and Nicholas Nicholson of Dallas, Texas. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In lieu of flowers please send donations in honor of Douglas to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork St. #405 Winchester, VA 22601. Arrangements for his Celebration of Life are in progress. For updates, please visit: www.caringbridge.org/visit/douglasadams