Wesley Adams

Stuart “Wesley” Adams, 68, passed away Wednesday, May 26, 2021 after a valiant fight with Pancreatic Cancer.  Wesley was born on August 8, 1952 in Wake County to the late David Henry Adams, Jr. and Odessa Ann Johnson Adams.   Wesley lived his life by the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  He was a devoted husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, son, friend, teacher, and coach.  

He grew up on Hodge road working on his family’s tobacco farm.  Although the work was not easy, the lessons he learned carried him throughout his life. Faith, hard work, honesty, integrity, kindness, and responsibility were values instilled in him at an early age, and that he passed on to his children and grandchildren.  

He graduated from Vaiden Whitley High School in 1970 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Campbell University. Upon graduation from Campbell, he started his career as a teacher and coach in Wendell, NC. In addition to being an educator, he continued to farm on the side.  

In 1985 he married the love of his life, Olivia Lewis Adams, and together they made a great team.  From this union, they were blessed with two daughters: Brittany and Jill.  During their marriage, they enjoyed hosting friends and family, going to ECU football games, discovering new restaurants, and spending time with their children and grandchildren.   

In 1987, Wesley opened Adams General Store on Poole Road, and successfully ran the store with his wife for twenty years.  He cherished the relationships he made with people in the community through his business.  

Wesley was a devoted father and supported his children at every milestone in their life. After coaching his daughters in basketball, he started the East Wake Spirit AAU girls basketball team and traveled in and out of the state coaching.  He enjoyed coaching so much that he decided to go back to where he began his career - as a teacher.  He worked at East Wake Middle School until his retirement in 2016.  While there,  he was a health and physical education teacher, athletic director, athletic trainer, and coach of many sports.  He excelled in all of these roles, but his favorite was basketball coach. 

In his younger years, Wesley enjoyed playing sports: baseball, basketball, and men’s softball.  For the last forty years, he was an avid golfer.  He was a member at Wendell Country Club and enjoyed playing with friends and family.  

During retirement, he enjoyed spending more time with who and what he loved.  He and Olivia enjoyed dancing and were members of the Raleigh Shag Club.  Wesley also enjoyed cooking, grilling, gardening, going to eat with his lifelong friends, playing with his grandchildren, and of course, more golf.  

Wesley was a lifelong member of Bethlehem Baptist Church and taught Sunday School.  He knew Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior and his faith was the anchor in his life that often shared with others.  During his battle with Pancreatic Cancer, he would freely share about his faith in God, the peace he had in his heart, and how his faith carried him through his sickness.  

Wesley is survived by his wife of 36 years, Olivia Lewis Adams; daughters: Brittany Janice Adams of Zebulon, Jill Adams Siler (Jason) of Charlotte; grandchildren: Sadie Grace Siler, Harper Ann Siler; brothers: Michael Lee Adams, Gerald Wayne Adams (Debbie); sister-in-law, Jackie Jeffreys Adams.

In addition to his parents, Wesley was preceded in death by his brother, David Henry “DH” Adams III; sister-in-law, Beverly Beamon Adams. 

A service to celebrate Wesley’s life will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 8400 Poole Road, Knightdale. 

The family will receive relatives and friends in the church fellowship hall after the service for a time of refreshments and fellowship. 

Condolences to the family may be sent to poolefuneral.com under Tributes.

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