Rosa M. Adams

Rosa Mae Adams was born on January 31, 1935, and passed away peacefully on October 22, 2024. She was the daughter of the late Emma and Wallace Howerton and was raised in Blackstone, Virginia.
Rosa graduated from Luther Foster High School in 1953 alongside her future husband, William Earl Adams. They married in 1955 and soon welcomed their beloved daughter, the late Mary Darlene Gorham. Rosa furthered her education at the Piedmont Sanitary School of Practical Nursing, become a Licensed Practical Nurse. Her career allowed her to work across the country while traveling with her husband during his Army service.
They settled in Forestville, Maryland where their home became a hub for family and friends, filled with laughter and countless memories. Rosa's dedication as a nurse shone through when she cared for her mother-in-law Dorothy Adams, who had Alzheimer's disease.
After becoming a widow, Rosa returned to Blackstone to live with her daughter Mary Dee, until her passing in 2019. Despite her losses, Rosa remained welcoming and cheerful, loving to eat and talk. A niece fondly recalls their times eating fried chicken and watching Westerns.
Rosa will be missed by all her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Sema Howerton (Thelma), husband William Earl Adams, and daughter Mary Darlene Gorham. She leaves behind her grandson George William Gorham of Washington, DC; her niece and caretaker, Terry Vanessa Robinson of Blackstone, VA; four nieces, Sherri Coates, Tamika Coates, Keesha Coates and Shonette Howerton; nephew Derrick Howerton, other family and friends.
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