Joseph “Joe” Adams, Jr.

Mr. Joseph “Joe” Adams, Jr., 86, died Saturday, January 25, 2025, at his home in Water Valley, Mississippi. A Funeral Mass will be held Friday, January 31, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church of Oxford with Father Mark Shoffner officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 9:00 A.M. at the church. Burial will follow the service in Eastover Memorial Cemetery.

Joe was born on July 14, 1938, in Curundu, Canal Zone, to the late Edna I. Morris and Joseph Adams, Sr. He joined the Iowa Air National Guard, bravely serving his country as 1st Lieutenant from 1960 until 1969. A graduate of Westmar College in Iowa, Joe earned his Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering and later his Master’s Degree in Business from Florida Institute of Technology. He went on to work for Holly Automotive in Water Valley, later known as Borg Warner, as a senior quality administrator. Joe was a faithful member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, where he lent his beautiful voice to the choir, finding great peace and refuge through the offering of hymns. He passed on his love and passion for music to each of his children. In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 44 years, Marie Therese Adams; his sister, Edna Bitner; and his brother, Dunston Lurch.

Joe is survived by his daughter, Shannon Chiles and her husband, Drew, of Water Valley, MS; three sons, Sean Adams of Water Valley, MS, Chris Adams and his partner, Ashley D’amore, of Memphis, TN, and Brian Adams and his wife, Marlee, of Southaven, MS; a niece, Laurie Bent of Denver, CO; grandchildren, Linden “Denny” Chiles, Kelly Adams, Kathryn Adams, Jake Everett, Asher Rhys, and one on the way.

Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Joe’s memory may be made to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church Benevolent Fund, 416 South 5th Street, Oxford, Mississippi 38655, or online at https://www.osvhub.com/stjohnoxford/giving/funds/st-john-benevolent-fund.