Ilse Adams

Evans, GA - Ilse Adams arrived safely home in heaven on March 24, 2017 after having walked long and faithfully with her Lord Jesus. She was preceded by her husband, Alvin Adams and her son, Paul. She is survived by her son, Robb Adams (Edra), her daughter, Christy Harvey (Pat), her daughter-in-law, Barbara, nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and her nephew, Dietrich Klussendorf, in Berlin, her niece, Lore Bonin, in Wurmlingen, and their families.
Mrs. Adams was born, Ilse Martha Anna Schleswig, on Sept. 20, 1920, in Bartenstein, East Prussia. She survived the horrors of World War II along with her two sisters, Meta and Charlotte, although their parents did not. Forced to work in a Nazi POW camp, her English skills led to work for the Allies after the war where she met her husband-to-be. Their oldest son, Paul, was born in Wurzburg, Germany. Mrs. Adams became a US citizen in 1952 when they came to the US to be stationed at Ft. Sill, OK. Their son, Robb, was born there though Maj. Adams had already been deployed to Korea. Within the year, and only two years after leaving Germany, Mrs. Adams drove by herself to San Francisco with her newborn, her 3-year old and their dog, and boarded ship for Japan to rejoin her husband. While stationed in Tokyo their daughter, Christy, was born. The family returned to the US in 1957 and settled in Augusta where Col. Adams finished his military career and retired at Ft. Gordon.
For the rest of Mrs. Adams’ life their home was a place of ministry to soldiers from Ft. Gordon and to children of the CSRA. Our parents worked tirelessly, both with the Augusta Christian Servicemen’s Center on Broad St, and at home, baking cakes, cooking dinners, hosting soldiers, leading Bible studies and offering hospitality, kindness and the love of Jesus to hundreds and hundreds of men on their way to Vietnam. Our mother was passionate in her desire to lead children to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This was true for her children, and their children, and their children, for whom she prayed faithfully her entire life. She could say with the Apostle John, “I have no greater joy than to know that my children walk in the truth.” This passion was borne out in decades of faithful service with Child Evangelism Fellowship in Augusta as well as through her support of children around the world through World Vision International. As late as her early 90’s she continued to support 6 children in Africa and S. America giving for their support and education, writing letters, sending Christmas presents and delighting in the messages she received from them.
Mrs. Adams loved to read her Bible and wanted others around the world to be able to do the same leading to a long, committed relationship with Wycliffe Bible Translators as well as other organizations who shared her desire to introduce people here and around the world to the hope of the Gospel. Mrs. Adams has been a member of the Everette Huff Peters Sunday School class at Warren Road Baptist since she moved to Washington Commons, but had previously served and worshipped with her friends at Bethany Chapel, The Bible Chapel and Believer’s Gospel Chapel for many long and happy years. Rather than flowers, her family invites those who wish to honor her to make memorial gifts to any of the organizations that were dear to her heart and who are committed, as she was, to share the Gospel around the world.
Her family would like to express its deep appreciation for the exceptional care and kindness of the staff of Westwood Extended Care who have treated their mother and grandmother with the greatest respect during her time there.
A funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. in the chapel of Thomas Poteet & Son. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Graniteville, SC.
The family will receive visitors on Monday evening from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com