Thomas Luther Adams, Jr.

Thomas Luther Adams Jr. (Tom), age 90, of Bel Air, Maryland, passed away on March 8, 2025. He went home to be with Jesus, surrounded by loved ones.

One would be hard pressed to find a more loyal man or “Harford Countian” than Tom Adams. Born on March 31, 1934, in an apartment on Bel Air's Main Street (above the former Walker’s Five & Dime, next to Boyd & Fulford Drugs), Tom was a well-known farmer, seed salesman, church member, and proud county resident for his entire life. Above all, he loved God, and was a loving son, husband, father, Grandfather, and Great grandfather.

There hardly seems to be a local area family that he didn’t know or have some connection. Whenever Tom met someone he didn't “know”, he usually worked hard to change that.

Tom was the son of Thomas L Adams Sr., long-time Harford County Register of Wills; and Marcelene Kefauver Adams, leader of the Ladybugs 4-H Club for more than 40 years. A month after Tom's birth, the family moved to the corner of South Main and Homestead Streets in Bel Air, where they lived for 7 years.

In 1937, Tom's father bought 202 acres on Calvary Road near Creswell and named it Fair Haven Farm, remodeling the property's historic 1770 stone farmhouse. The family moved to the farm on December 7, 1941 (Pearl Harbor Day).

A popular student among classmates, teachers, and school administrators, Tom attended Bel Air Elementary, Churchville Elementary, Bel Air Junior High and then Bel Air High School, graduating in June of 1953. It was during his junior year of high school that he started dating Miriam Richardson (whose family owned and operated Richardson's Florist). They married exactly 2 years after that first date on October 17, 1954. They spent the next 7 decades building a loving family and life together on the beautiful rolling farm fields of Fair Haven Farm that lay to the east of Bel Air's town borders.

Tom and his father would milk Holstein cows at Fair Haven until 1967, when they built a trench silo and transitioned to beef, grain,and hay farming. Tom would also serve as a Funk's Hybrid and Hoffman seed salesman for several decades.

From the first tractor he purchased, a Farmall F-20, Tom was known to like any color tractor "as long as it was red”. The Adams’ property would eventually grow to 256 acres. Tom’s son Steve, would later join him in the farm operation. Tom's oldest son, Tom III, would also establish his own successful farming and lime business in the county.

Throughout the years, Tom continued to adopt more modernized machinery and more progressive farming methods into Fair Haven's operation. This included the use of artificial insemination for the dairy herd, implementing contour farming, no-till planting practices, large square hay and straw bales, installing field drain tile, and adopting numerous other soil conservation and environmentally sustainable practices. In addition, the farm would be placed into Harford County's Land Preservation program in 2008.

For his conservation and leadership efforts, Tom was honored with several agricultural awards during his career. In 2003, he was named the Outstanding Conservation Farmer by the Harford County Soil Conservation District and in 2016 he was named Farmer-of-the-Year by the Harford County Farm Bureau, an organization to which he belonged for almost 75 years. He was also a longtime member of the Churchville Farmers Club.

Tom was also never shy about sharing his faith with those around him. He was a member of Mountain Christian Church in Joppa for 67 years serving on the church's Board of Trustees, Board of Elders, and numerous other committees. He and Miriam also hosted numerous Bible study groups in their home each week for many years.

Not surprisingly, Tom's happiest memories in life were all farm and family related. As a boy, he loved to swim in the farm's pond on hot summer days. As an adult, there was no better feeling to him than that of putting hay in the barn,but never on a Sunday. Tom was always quick to point out that not a single bale of Fair Haven hay was ever baled on the Lord's Day (though neighbors often joke that they were going to sneak onto his property while he was in church one Sunday and change that). ,

And speaking of joking, one could argue that Tom’s favorite "hobby" in life was making people laugh. He loved to put a smile on someone’s face. He therefore will be remembered by many for the countless pranks he played (or convinced others to play) on pretty much everyone around him. He was especially known for surprising unsuspecting neighbors, visitors, and others (including policemen, government officials, school principals, fellow church members, and ministers) with an assortment of electrical shocking devices he possessed. Any initial anger a person might feel when falling victim to one of Tom's pranks was quickly dispelled by the signature guffaw and irresistible charm of the Creswell farmer.

Finally, Tom will also be remembered by many for the great love he had for, and high priority he placed on his family. He was the consummate family man, seeming to always be on the lookout for ways to help his kids, grandkids, great grandchildren and "family-like" friends find joy in life.

Every summer for more than 25 years, he helped Miriam plan and host an elaborate week-long summer kids camp for the entire Adams family located at Fair Haven for many years and later expanded to other locations such as the Outer Banks. Camp was jam packed with creative activities, crafts, swimming, treasure hunts, family bonding, songs and most importantly he was surrounded by all those he loved.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Julia. He is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Miriam; his 4 children,15 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren:

● Tom III (Debbie Anderson)

○ Tad/Tom Adams IV (Marisa), Daughter Kennedy

○ Bowen

● Stephen (Marlene)

○ Brandon (Christina) Children: Ephraim, Talia, Libby

○ Tyler (Amy), Children: Ellie, Sadie, Henry

○ Mackenzie (Andrew) Scarff, Children: Marcelene, Esther

● Marsha (Paul) Quesenberry

○ Connor (Shelley) Lacy, Daughter: Abigail

○ Caitlin (Justin) Hanks

○ Hannah Lacy

○ Megan (Ken) Diller, Children:Hudson, Vivian

○ Emily Quesenberry Albert

○ Ka’marion Macmillan

● Marilyn (Kevin) Bradley

○ Todd (Meg), Children: Rae, Jack

○ Mark (Kayla), Children: Brooks, Kylo

○ Scott (Kristen)

○ Jake

He also leaves behind countless other family members, neighbors, and friends who will always feel blessed to have known him.