Justine D. Adams

Justine Adams of Norwich NY, died peacefully, in her sleep, Thursday morning, August 9th. She was 94. She was born Justine Hockaday to Jerry and Nellie Hockaday in South Rosemary. Though a resident of Norwich for over 60 years she still spoke with the southern accent of her North Carolina roots. She cherished a good tomato, salted her watermelon, and loved a succession of orange cats. She always approached life with the gentleness of her southern upbringing.
She graduated from Roanoke Rapids High School in 1942 and then went to work in Washington D.C. until February of 1944. At that time, she decided to work closer to home and started working in Norfolk VA. While in Norfolk she enjoyed being a hostess at a small naval Officer's Club where she met Ensign Roger Adams who was from Maine. They dated and decided to correspond. They married in 1948 in Roanoke Rapids. In 1954 they moved to Norwich, NY and lived there for the rest of their lives. She worked for eight years in his dental office. After working in the dental office she returned to college and finished her four year college degree, after which she ran a bookstore, Justine's Bookworld, for fifteen years. After closing the bookstore in 1994 she enjoyed playing bridge and pursued her hobby of doing research into the writings of Henry James.
Throughout her life she maintained close ties to her friends and family in North Carolina, visiting many Christmases, Easters, and summer vacationing at the Outer Banks. Justine never cared about the trappings of the holidays as long as everyone was present. As she pursued her research into the writings of Henry James, in her later years, she left an abiding image of her, surrounded by books, writing table on her lap, an orange cat curled up beside her, vegetables simmering on the stove, and a friendly greeting on her lips.
She is predeceased by her husband Roger Adams D.D.S., and her two brothers: W. Frederick Hockaday of Roanoke Rapids and Francis Hockaday of Oregon City, Oregon. She is survived by her four sons: David Adams D.D.S., and his wife Dawn, of Norwich, Paul Adams of Norwich, John Adams and his wife Ann of Glastonbury, CT., and Steve Adams and his wife Barbara of Poughkeepsie, NY. She is also survived by her three grandchildren: James, and his wife Nicki, and Rachel and Jennifer.
The family invites all who want to come to the Canasawacta Valley Free Methodist Church, 4299 State Highway 23, Norwich NY on Sunday August 26th from 1:00 to 4:00 for time to share memories of her.
Justine was laid to rest alongside Roger at Hockaday Cemetery in Roanoke Rapids.