Mr. Derek Adams

Mr. James Derek Adams, age 57, of Summerville, GA, died Sunday, March 24, 2024, at his residence.

Mr. Adams was born September 17, 1966, in Rome, GA, son of the late Herman Winston Adams and Mary Ann Bridges Hale.  He was a member of Trion First Baptist Church and was retired from Mohawk Industries.  He had also previously been employed with Hurley’s Grocery Store, Miller-Southeastern Mills, and Sysco Foods.

Mr. Adams was a member of the Rodeo Society for 11 years as a bull rider for Charlie Lowry as well as a rodeo clown for 2 years.  He drove in the mini-cup NASCAR series for a short time and was an avid fan of Dale Earnhardt, Sr.  In his young adult life, he participated in church baseball and volleyball leagues, and prior to his recent sickness, he helped with the youth at Trion First Baptist Church.  He also loved to camp and fish.

For the last 16 years, he’s actively competed in barbeque competitions, earning many trophies over the years.  His greatest accomplishment was winning the Jack Daniels World Championship Backyard Contest in 2014, where he received a perfect score of 180.  Not only did he cook barbeque, but he was also a certified judge for the Kansas City Barbeque Society.  He has been a cancer warrior for almost 2 years, but his greatest reward was being a dad.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Adams was preceded in death by twin sons, Brendan Lee Adams and Preston Frazier Adams; his second father, Herbert Hale; brother, Steven Helton “Stevie” Breeden; grandparents, Albert Moody Bridges, Helen Inez Tidmore Bridges, Guy and Sydney Adams; his father-in-law, Nelson Lee Wilson; and special uncle, Pat Gaines.

Survivors include his wife of 23 years, April Lee Wilson Adams; sons, Dylan Chase Adams, Levi Jaden Adams; brother, Stanley (Susan) Hale; sister, Wanda (Dale) Levan; sister-in-law, Cynthia (Nick) Swords; mother-in-law, Brenda Wilson; 6 nieces, 4 nephews; 1 great-niece; 4 great-nephews; 2 great-great-nephews; many cousins, aunts, and uncles.

Funeral services will be held at 7:00 P.M. Friday, March 29, 2024, from the Mason Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Casey Bramlett, Dr. Dale Levan, and Mr. Ray Henson officiating.  Honorary pallbearers will be his friends in the barbeque community, the Men’s Sunday School Class of Trion First Baptist Church; and special friends, Michael Cothran, Phil McGuire, and John Sterner.

Mr. Adams will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 5:00 P.M. until the hour of service on Friday.

Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) to help with research to fight this disease, to Operation BBQ Relief, or to the Cancer Navigators in Rome.

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