Marcus Adams

Marcus Monore "M.M. Adams

Marcus Adams, 96, of Winchester, Virginia died Tuesday, April 14, 2009 in the Winchester Medical Center. Mr. Adams was born in Frederick County on December 1, 1912 to Ernest Washington and Mary Virginia Larrick Adams. Marcus was the eldest of four children. He is preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Garland Adams. He is survived by a brother Ernest Washington Adams, Jr. and a sister Frances Virginia Unger, both of Frederick County.

Marcus was raised on the family farm in Gainesboro, VA and was a young man as the great depression began. He learned the value of hard work and the art of "making do". He then worked the farm that belonged to his mother's family in Hayfield, VA. In 1945 he purchased the Esso service station on Amherst and Boscawen Streets and operated it until 1968. Marcus farmed by day and worked the station at night. His family helped run the station making it a family operation. He was also the manager of the Frederick County Farm Bureau for 13 years and served on the Frederick County Sanitation Authority Board.

The lessons of the depression were never far from his mind. He taught the value of thrift, saving and hard work to all who would listen. He often reminded people how the depression began and what it was like to see values decline, unemployment rise and savings lost in the stock market. His cautions always ended with the phrase, "we could see it like that again."

Marcus enjoyed attending the Farmers' Livestock Exchange and visiting the business of his daughter and son-in-law, Doyle's Equipment Service. He also enjoyed discussions about farming, politics and economics with everyone. In later years, he adopted baseball and the Baltimore Orioles as a favorite hobby. In the last few months of his life he was finally able to speak of the depression and say "See, it can happen again."

Marcus is survived by his wife of 54 years, Naomi Luttrell Adams. His only son Marcus Adams, Jr. continues to operate the farm that has been in the family for more than a century. He is also survived by a daughter, Cheryl Leigh Reynolds of Winchester and three daughters from a previous marriage, Willetta Jean(Billie)Whittington, Augusta, Virginia (Jenny) Dodson, both of Winchester, and Joyce Ann (Peggy) Smith of Richmond, VA. He is also survived by eight grand-children and five great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 17, at 2:00 p.m. at Omps Funeral Home – Amherst Chapel with Rev. Isaac Luttrell officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Hebron Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Solomon Adams, Doyle (Eddie) Whittington, Jr., Dwain Whittington, Doyle Whittington, Sr., Carroll Dodson and Rick Reynolds.

The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. at Omps Funeral Home – Amherst Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution to a charity of your choice may be made.

Sign the guestbook and view obituaries at www.ompsfuneralhome.com