Ann ADAMSON

1934 - 2016

ADAMSON, Ann L. Sept. 18, 1934 Nov. 24, 2016 Ann L. Adamson, 82, former Interim Secretary of State of Georgia. For a brief time in 1979, Ann Lenhardt Adamson became Georgia's first female constitutional officer, temporarily filling the shoes of long-time Secretary of State Ben W. Fortson who died in office May 19, 1979. A Toccoa, GA native who joined the Secretary of State's office in 1952, Ms. Adamson rose through the ranks to become second in command. She was appointed Assistant Secretary of State in 1973 by then Governor Jimmy Carter. Ms. Adamson passed away unexpectedly on Thanksgiving day, following a fall Wednesday night at her residence in LaGrange. She leaves behind a legacy of hard work, caring for others and always trying to do the right thing. In fact, when Martin Luther King, Jr, was assassinated in 1968, Ms. Adamson did what she thought was right, defying then Governor Lester Maddox's orders not to lower the capital building flag to half staff in honor of the slain civil rights leader. At the time Ben Fortson was away on a fishing trip and she made the call. "The Secretary of State's office is responsible for the flag; we're following the President's (Lyndon Johnson) orders, and that's that," she was known to have said. Ms. Adamson was considered by Governor George Busbee to serve the remainder of Ben Fortson's term, expiring in 1982. According to an Atlanta Constitution article from May 24, 1979, Ms. Adamson had "behind the scenes" support from a number of top state officials including Lt. Gov. Zell Miller and House Speaker Tom Murphy. She was passed over for the position but continued to stay involved in Georgia politics. After leaving the Secretary of State's office in 1980, Ms. Adamson spent time as a political consultant, worked for the DeKalb Democratic Party and had an unsuccessful run for Georgia House District 67 in 1992. In 2005 she moved to LaGrange and became involved with a number of organizations, serving on the boards of Florence Hand Home, the LaGrange Lyric Theatre, and serving as president of the resident's council at Vernon Woods Retirement Community. She was also involved with the LaGrange Newcomers Club. Carol Ann Lenhardt married Charles Leonard Adamson on November 27, 1953 at Epworth Methodist Church in Atlanta, where she was a member. They would have celebrated 63 years together this Sunday. She is preceded in death by her husband Dr. C. L. Adamson (1930-2007), mother Sara Adeline Henderson Foster (1916-2005) and father Edwin B. Lenhardt (1913-1951). She is survived by daughters Lisa Bell (Steve) of Charlotte, NC, Alis Albritton (Dale) of LaGrange, GA, grandchildren Stephen Bell of Long Island, NY, John Bell (Taylor) of Charlotte, NC, Christopher Albritton of LaGrange, David Bell (Catalina Ruz) of Chicago, IL, Sara Albritton, of Columbus, GA and Rebecca Denham (Jimmy) of LaGrange. She is also survived by her beloved brother Richard Lenhardt of Snellville and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, including the residents of Vernon Woods Retirement community. Higgins LaGrange Chapel Funeral Home is handling the arrangements; a Celebration of Life will be held at First Baptist Church on the Square in LaGrange at 1:30 pm on Sunday, November 27 with visitation following the service. The family requests that memorials be made to the charity of your choice. On line condolences may be sent to the family at www.higginslagrangechapel.com.