Molly Adams

A short time back I was saddened to hear of the death of my cousin, Molly Adams. I had met her many years ago along with my mother, as oddly enough, despite her married name of Adams, she was instead related to me through my mother's family of Millard. She had been born Patricia Ruth Millard and given up for adoption. Her adoptive parents gave her the name Molly Kathryn Smith. She had some interesting stories to tell of how that all came about. Below is her Obituary from the Miami Herald (thanks to her daughter Laurie Frost for passing along the informatioin.):

Molly Adams

Molly Smith Adams
Molly Smith Adams was a native Miamian, born prematurely August 27, 1929, and immediately placed for adoption. She fought for her life and beat a failure to thrive prognosis. Molly lived in Miami for well over 84 years before moving to Asheville, NC, after becoming totally bedridden. On July 9, 2015, fighting for her final breaths, Molly died surrounded by her caretakers and family at Pisgah Manor Nursing Home, Candler, NC, one month shy of age 86. Molly grew up in the Shenandoah area of Miami and was baptized at Riverside Baptist Church. She played clarinet in the band at Shenandoah Junior and Miami Senior High schools. Looking older than her age, Molly volunteered for the Red Cross during WWII and did whatever job was asked of her. Molly was a freshman at Birmingham-Southern College, but that summer her appendix burst, and her health and family finances kept her from returning. She attended the University of Miami instead, back when it was so tiny that it was called a "cardboard college," graduating in 1951 with a degree in Science Education. She began her teaching career at Ponce de Leon Jr. High; she left the year West Miami Junior High opened and was one of its first faculty members. In July 1954, after taking a final exam in the morning at the University of Tennessee, she married Joseph Peter Adams, also an alum of Miami High and UM, in Knoxville, TN. Joe and Molly were married for 55 years until his death in 2009. Molly began what would prove to be a 17-year maternity leave in 1956 with the birth of her first son, Daniel. Daughter Laurie and son John followed over the next few years. In 1961, the Adams family moved to the City of West Miami, where Molly lived for the next 53 years. She returned to teaching in 1973, and retired from Ponce in 1989. With their children launched, Joe and Molly enjoyed traveling to Europe as chaperones with the Coral Gables Sr. High School Band, taking cruises, and attending Elderhostels across the country. Molly was active in the Coral Gables Women's Club and Music Club, Natives of Dade, alumni groups for Miami High and UM, as well as the Fleet and Dancers clubs at the former CGCC. At the time she left Miami, Molly was a member of the Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ. She is survived by her son Daniel (Olga), Houston, TX; daughter, Laurie Frost (Mark), Asheville, NC; son John (Franca), Brussels, Belgium; grandson Maxwell Frost (Alana), Mobile, AL; and granddaughter Iris Frost, Asheville, NC. The family would like to thank the City of West Miami's police, fire, and EMT services for helping Molly live in her own home as long as possible; the staff of Pisgah Valley Manor Nursing Home, Candler, NC for their compassionate care these past 18 months; and Mercedes Tulloch, family friend, who gave so much help to Molly when it was most needed these past years.