Elizabeth "Betty" Adams

Elizabeth S. Adams (Betty Adams), age 89, of Bel Air, MD, passed away on April 11, 2017 at Stella Maris Nursing Home. Born March 4, 1928, she was the daughter of the late F. Nelson Smith Sr. and Anna C. Smith (Callahan) of Creswell, MD. She attended St. Stephen's High School in Bradshaw, MD and was a life-time resident of Harford County and well-known community leader there. Until the spring of 2016, she and her husband Tom Adams Sr. had resided at 743 Roland Avenue for over sixty years. Betty met Tom in the 1940's when he moved from Cambridge MD to his uncle's Fairview Farm in Creswell. Betty's parents' farm was a mile or so down the road. It was there that she fell in love with the neighbor farm boy and married him. Betty and Tom Adams were married for 68 years and lived in Bel Air since 1948. They were active in the civic life of Bel Air and Harford County as were Betty's parents and siblings.

Betty gave generously of her time and talents to many Harford County and Maryland community organizations. She was active in St. Margaret's Parish from the 1950's when her children began attending St. Margaret's School. She co-chaired the St. Margaret's Fall Festival and later served on the Parish Council for many years. Betty was a leader in helping bring what is now Upper Chesapeake Hospital to Harford County. She was one of the first volunteers at Fallston General Hospital (which became Upper Chesapeake) and was a lead volunteer in running the Gift Shop there for decades. Betty's interest in health care resulted in her serving for a number of years on the Governor's Health Task Force for the region. Betty was a proud resident of Bel Air and Harford County and used her position at the Hospital Gift Shop to promote both through the sale of afghans and other products celebrating local history.

Betty is survived by her sons, Thomas H. Adams Jr. and wife, Geraldine, of Greenbelt, John L. Adams and wife, Mooi, of York, PA and Michael E. Adams Sr. and wife, Debbie, of Bel Air; daughter, Beth Adams of Lutherville; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; her brother Robert Smith of Bel Air, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents she was predeceased by her sisters Sarah Margaret Raphel, Mary Ford, Katherine Fleury, and her brother F. Nelson Smith Jr.

Those who desire may make a donation to St. Margaret Catholic Church, 141 N. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD 21014 or to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center Volunteer Office, c/o Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation, 520 Upper Chesapeake Drive, Suite 405, Bel Air, MD 21014 or the Alzheimer's Disease Association, 1850 York Road, Suite D, Timonium, MD 21093.