Laila Adams Eckels

Laila Adams Eckels, 75, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2025, surrounded by loved ones, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. She was born in Brookhaven, Mississippi, on November 20, 1949, to Ola Britt Adams and Luther Roy Adams, who preceded her in death.

She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Richard Harrison Eckels; her daughter, Amanda Adams Eckels Goetze (Nick); and her two beloved grandchildren, Harrison and Madeline.

Raised in Brookhaven, MS, Laila made a core group of friends affectionately known as the Sisters of the Solar System. A proud graduate of Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College), Laila carried with her a lifelong love of learning and service. She later returned to serve on the Rhodes College Board, sharing her time and wisdom with a place that shaped her. Laila gave her time generously to the Junior League, the Church of the Holy Communion, and many charitable organizations, always showing her deep love and devotion to her community.

An avid gardener and a lover of all things beautiful including the fine arts, Laila was known for her generosity, elegance, and grace. Though her frame was slight, her presence cast a long and lasting shadow. She will be remembered as a devoted wife, a wonderful mother, a beloved grandmother, a loyal friend, and a delightful person to all who knew her.

Services will be held on Tuesday, September 2, at 11:00 AM at the Church of the Holy Communion, followed by a reception in the Cheney Parish Hall. The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the Trezevant Memory Unit and to Flora Sims, Paulette Stancil, and Sonia Talbott for their loving care.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Church of the Holy Communion, Rhodes College, the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, or to an organization of the donor's choice.