Arvil Vernell Adams, 86, retired Merchant and civic leader, died of heart failure Thursday, August 12, 1999 at his home if Portageville. Adams was born January 18, 1913 in Pemiscot County to the late Albert L. and Annie Edwards Adams. He married Evelyn Liles April 4, 1937, who survives in the home.
Other survivors include a son, Arvil Van Adams of Springfield, Va.; a brother, Devwavon Adams of Sikeston; two sisters, Pauline Crafton and Etta Adams both of Portageville; three grandchildren, Gregory, Christopher, and Cynthia Adams of Virginia; and 21 nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by a brother, Eugene Adams and a sister, Roseline Downing.
He began his career as a merchant, serving the agricultural community as a partner in Osteen and Adams after returning in 1944 from two years of service with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C., and Memphis. He established and operated Adams Seed and Supply, Inc., in the early 1950s, continuing until his retirement in 1979.
Throughout his life he maintained a strong commitment to community service and education. From 1957 to 1972, he served as president of the Portageville School Board and later the New Madrid Reorganized School District No. 1. He presided during this period over a significant expansion of the school system and improvements in its quality. He was several times elected president of the Missouri School Boards Association and participated in events of the National School Board Association. He traveled widely in this role.
From 1981 to 1991, he was mayor of Portageville and oversaw the improvements of water, sewer, streets, and other public services, expanding the use of federal resources for this purpose. In his private life, he loved gardening and caring for roses. He was a 32 degree Mason and member of the First Baptist Church of Portageville community.
Services were held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 17, at the First Baptist Church of Portageville.
DeLisle Funeral Home of Portageville was in charge of services.
Democrat Argus - Caruthersville, Missouri - August 19, 1999
SISTER: Pauline Virginia Adams Crafton (1915-2011)Portageville Cemetery, Portageville, Mo.
Other survivors include a son, Arvil Van Adams of Springfield, Va.; a brother, Devwavon Adams of Sikeston; two sisters, Pauline Crafton and Etta Adams both of Portageville; three grandchildren, Gregory, Christopher, and Cynthia Adams of Virginia; and 21 nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by a brother, Eugene Adams and a sister, Roseline Downing.
He began his career as a merchant, serving the agricultural community as a partner in Osteen and Adams after returning in 1944 from two years of service with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C., and Memphis. He established and operated Adams Seed and Supply, Inc., in the early 1950s, continuing until his retirement in 1979.
Throughout his life he maintained a strong commitment to community service and education. From 1957 to 1972, he served as president of the Portageville School Board and later the New Madrid Reorganized School District No. 1. He presided during this period over a significant expansion of the school system and improvements in its quality. He was several times elected president of the Missouri School Boards Association and participated in events of the National School Board Association. He traveled widely in this role.
From 1981 to 1991, he was mayor of Portageville and oversaw the improvements of water, sewer, streets, and other public services, expanding the use of federal resources for this purpose. In his private life, he loved gardening and caring for roses. He was a 32 degree Mason and member of the First Baptist Church of Portageville community.
Services were held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 17, at the First Baptist Church of Portageville.
DeLisle Funeral Home of Portageville was in charge of services.
Democrat Argus - Caruthersville, Missouri - August 19, 1999
SISTER: Pauline Virginia Adams Crafton (1915-2011)Portageville Cemetery, Portageville, Mo.
Arvil Vernell Adams, 86, retired Merchant and civic leader, died of heart failure Thursday, August 12, 1999 at his home if Portageville. Adams was born January 18, 1913 in Pemiscot County to the late Albert L. and Annie Edwards Adams. He married Evelyn Liles April 4, 1937, who survives in the home.
Other survivors include a son, Arvil Van Adams of Springfield, Va.; a brother, Devwavon Adams of Sikeston; two sisters, Pauline Crafton and Etta Adams both of Portageville; three grandchildren, Gregory, Christopher, and Cynthia Adams of Virginia; and 21 nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by a brother, Eugene Adams and a sister, Roseline Downing.
He began his career as a merchant, serving the agricultural community as a partner in Osteen and Adams after returning in 1944 from two years of service with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C., and Memphis. He established and operated Adams Seed and Supply, Inc., in the early 1950s, continuing until his retirement in 1979.
Throughout his life he maintained a strong commitment to community service and education. From 1957 to 1972, he served as president of the Portageville School Board and later the New Madrid Reorganized School District No. 1. He presided during this period over a significant expansion of the school system and improvements in its quality. He was several times elected president of the Missouri School Boards Association and participated in events of the National School Board Association. He traveled widely in this role.
From 1981 to 1991, he was mayor of Portageville and oversaw the improvements of water, sewer, streets, and other public services, expanding the use of federal resources for this purpose. In his private life, he loved gardening and caring for roses. He was a 32 degree Mason and member of the First Baptist Church of Portageville community.
Services were held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 17, at the First Baptist Church of Portageville.
DeLisle Funeral Home of Portageville was in charge of services.
Democrat Argus - Caruthersville, Missouri - August 19, 1999
SISTER: Pauline Virginia Adams Crafton (1915-2011)Portageville Cemetery, Portageville, Mo.
Other survivors include a son, Arvil Van Adams of Springfield, Va.; a brother, Devwavon Adams of Sikeston; two sisters, Pauline Crafton and Etta Adams both of Portageville; three grandchildren, Gregory, Christopher, and Cynthia Adams of Virginia; and 21 nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by a brother, Eugene Adams and a sister, Roseline Downing.
He began his career as a merchant, serving the agricultural community as a partner in Osteen and Adams after returning in 1944 from two years of service with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington, D.C., and Memphis. He established and operated Adams Seed and Supply, Inc., in the early 1950s, continuing until his retirement in 1979.
Throughout his life he maintained a strong commitment to community service and education. From 1957 to 1972, he served as president of the Portageville School Board and later the New Madrid Reorganized School District No. 1. He presided during this period over a significant expansion of the school system and improvements in its quality. He was several times elected president of the Missouri School Boards Association and participated in events of the National School Board Association. He traveled widely in this role.
From 1981 to 1991, he was mayor of Portageville and oversaw the improvements of water, sewer, streets, and other public services, expanding the use of federal resources for this purpose. In his private life, he loved gardening and caring for roses. He was a 32 degree Mason and member of the First Baptist Church of Portageville community.
Services were held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, August 17, at the First Baptist Church of Portageville.
DeLisle Funeral Home of Portageville was in charge of services.
Democrat Argus - Caruthersville, Missouri - August 19, 1999
SISTER: Pauline Virginia Adams Crafton (1915-2011)Portageville Cemetery, Portageville, Mo.
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