Leon Adams

Leon Christopher Adams was born October 10, 1949, the son of the late Ollie and Goode Alfonzo Adams in Washington, DC. At a young age, he was adopted by his grandmother, the late Judith Richardson Adams, who he affectionately called "Big Ma" and was raised in Saluda, South Carolina. She would affectionately call him, "Leonee." Big Ma instilled so much of her character traits in him that made him a strong and resilient kid that became a man. He was raised on a farm where he developed his strong work ethic and discipline.
As a kid, he picked up a knack for sewing at six years old. It started with chicken feed sacks that turned into a tailoring business that spanned over 40 years. The tailoring business that had many iterations, from Adams Tailoring to B & L Tailors (Broderick and Lloyd Tailors). Leon was such a people person and so charismatic. He transformed lives through communication, but his business was a vessel to do it. He created lifelong friendships. He became a counselor and friend. He sewed seams, but also stitched and weaved a place into the lives of all those that met him.
At a young age he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and was devoted to His teachings and was baptized at Penn Creek Baptist Church.
Leon attended Saluda County Schools and was proud to say that he attended Riverside High School where he was a wrestler. He was smaller in stature, but he was strong and certainly could defend himself. He also attended Piedmont Technical College before going into the U. S. Army. In 1968, he became a dedicated solider where he proudly served. James Brown had a performance in Germany for the soldiers and they needed someone to make his signature cape. Leon was the only one in his unit who could sew and rise to the challenge. The cape graced the shoulders of James Brown as he made his grand entrance on stage.
In 1972, he met his soon to be bride, Kathy Delores Peeples, in Columbia, SC. He was introduced to her by his best friend, Warren Butler. In 1974, they were married, and Kathy became an Adams. The ceremony was performed in Saluda by his brother, Raymond Adams on the front porch of his house. He always referred to his brother Raymond as "my dear brother." In that union Broderick, Keisha and Lloyd were born. Leon and Kathy shared over 50 years together navigating their lives together and parenthood.
Leon was a skilled man. He could build, sew, and articulate. He was a doer and a man of action. Each of his children inherited parts of their father. At a young age, he knew that he wanted to be a father. Broderick, the oldest, like his father is a well-read intellectual that can share experiences and knowledge with those who encounter him. Keisha, the middle child, a mix of both parents, but captured her father's zeal, resilience and looks – his twin. He made sure she knew how to do, how to live and supported her independence. Lloyd, the baby boy, is all hands on, like his dad. He is a builder and is business oriented. And like his father, a doer and free thinker. Many more traits can be attributed from Leon to his children. He always told them that they were loved and that he had "good children that never gave him any trouble." He often told them "nothing beats a failure but a try." Leon would also often declare, "I love my wife!". He let her know how pretty she was and would often critique her outfits so that she could look THE best. The tailor in him never died. It cannot go without saying that he loved his family and was proud of each of them.
Leon had the essence of resiliency and determination, but he had hobbies that supported lifelong learning, growth and sheer contentment with life. He loved big band, jazz, classic Motown and R & B music. His love for science, aeronautics, ship building, and nature was something that he thoroughly enjoyed. He started other small businesses and even loved cooking. Not surprised by his gift of jab, he was a comedian and performed with J. Anthony Brown in Five Points in Columbia, SC. He was a musician, and he played the saxophone in a band. He had the opportunity to perform with James Brown and Peabo Bryson.
And yes, his life was always an adventure.
The life he was given was his reward.
In addition to his 'Big Ma', and his parents, he was also preceded in death by his sisters, Anna Montee Daniels, Christine Bethea and Mary Esther Adams; brothers, William T. Adams, Jr., Joseph Adams, Herbert Adams, John Quincy Adams, Alfonzo Adams, and Jerry Adams.
Those that will cherish his memory and share the stories of his life and impact are his wife, Kathy Peeples Adams of Columbia, SC; sons, Broderick Christopher Adams of Atlanta, GA; Lloyd Christopher Adams of Columbia, SC; loved as a son, Silkee McClary (April) of Columbia, SC; and his daughter, Keisha Shamaro Adams of Columbia, SC; brothers, Raymond P. Adams (Josephine) of Saluda, SC, Gregory Adams (Geraldine) of Columbia, SC and Chauncey Adams of Philadelphia, PA; sisters, Cynthia Christie (Harold) of Columbia, SC, Jacqueline Adams of Columbia, SC, and Judith Crum (Steven) of Philadelphia, PA; sister-in-law, Ogretta Peeples of Columbia, SC; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends that will cherish his life with remembrance and love.
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