Jean Stephenson Adams, 92, of Martinsville, VA passed away Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at her home. She was born on November 3, 1925 in Bozeman, Montana to the late Charles Edwin Stephenson and Lucile Diefenderfer Stephenson. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Arlene Stephenson and brother, William Stephenson.
Mrs. Adams received her Undergraduate Degree at Montana State and Masters from NYU and was employed by Buster Brown Textiles where she was a designer… Read More » of socks and children’s knit play clothing. Jean and George were married in 1955 and moved to Martinsville in 1965. Jean was part of the Virginia Federation of Women’s Clubs, Martinsville-Henry County Woman’s Club from 1967-1989, during which she held the offices of President and District Chairman.
She was the Managing editor of the Women’s Club’s book, “Martinsville-Henry County Historical Views” published in 1976 for the Bicentennial Celebration. She was in charge of the monthly recycled newspaper drives from 1973-1985. Much of the money raised from these paper drives went to the Boy Scout Troops who assisted in loading the tractor trailers.
She was the editor of the Friends of Blue Ridge Regional Library Newsletter from 1991-1994, on the Endowment Board of Directors of the Citizens Against Family Violence from 1993-1996, the Chairman of the Criminal Justice Policy Advisory Committee of the West Piedmont Planning District from 1975-1980, and was involved in Scouting as a Girl Scouts Brownie Leader, a Senior Scout Leader, and a Boy Scout Cub Leader. Active in the state of Virginia Museum of Natural History (VMNH) from the beginning of its formation, Jean started the Friends of VMNH with the help of another volunteer. She wrote and illustrated the VMNH “Virginia Indians – An Educational Coloring Book”, lead the campaign “Don’t Let the Museum Get Struck Out – Save the State’s Museum of Natural History!
,” received the William Barton Rogers Individual Award of Outstanding Volunteer to VMNH in 1994, was the VMNH Board of Trustees Treasurer for 9 years, and, with her husband, received the Dr. Noel T. Boaz Director’s Award of Natural History for significant contributions and support of VMNH. For 20 years she helped to continually oppose the relocation of the VMNH since many VA cities wanted the museum. For 13 years she served as a City Election Worker and then became an Electoral Board Member for an additional 13 years, before resigning in 2004.
Mrs. Adams is survived by her husband, George B. Adams, Jr.; children, Dr. George B. Adams, III (wife Dr. Leah Jamieson), Dr. Carol J. Adams, MD, and Sarah L.A. Hammack (husband Matthew); sister, Betty A. Stephenson; and three grandchildren (Caitlin Adams, Stephen Hammack, and Brian Hammack, wife Brooke). A Celebration of Life service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 30, 2018 at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church with Rev. Robert P. Button officiating.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Virginia Museum of Natural History Foundation, 21 Starling Ave, Martinsville, VA 24112 or to Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, 725 Beechnut Lane, Martinsville, VA 24112. Norris Funeral Services, Inc. and Crematory in Martinsville, Virginia is serving the Adams family. Online condolences may be made at www.
norrisfuneralservices.com.
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