Martha Adams

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Martha Jane Beggs Adams, 86, of Chaffee died Monday, Oct. 13, 2014.

She was born Aug. 18, 1928, in Chaffee, daughter of Julius Francis and Beulah Williams Beggs. Her mother died a few days later and her grandparents, Myrtle Frank and Lillie Dale White Williams, raised her. She was raised with her uncles Tom Williams and Lawrence Williams.

Martha and Richard O'Neal Adams were married Aug. 27, 1948, in Chaffee, where they resided most of their lives. They celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary Aug. 27, 2014.

She attended Southeast Missouri State University, where she received a bachelor's degree in teaching and a master's degree in counseling. She taught grades one through eight at the former Campster School in Cape Girardeau, sixth grade at Alma Schrader Elementary School in Cape Girardeau, and fourth grade at Chaffee Elementary School in Chaffee, where she greatly influenced the lives of numerous students. Martha Jane firmly believed every child was capable of learning and worked to teach each of them how to reach their full potential.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Chaffee, but in recent years also attended First Christian Church in Chaffee and First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau. She was a member of Chapter LY of PEO in Cape Girardeau; Nancy Hunter Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in Cape Girardeau; Missouri Retired Teachers Association; Ladies VFW Auxiliary; and the Alumni Association of Southeast Missouri State University. She was an avid Cardinals baseball fan.

Survivors include her husband, Richard O'Neal Adams; a daughter and her husband, Carol O'Neil Adams Robinson and Dr. Ronald Lewis Robinson; a granddaughter, Carol Rene Robinson and husband Dr. David Christopher Sallee of Collierville, Tennessee; two great-granddaughters, Maria Robinson Sallee and Elena Robinson Sallee; a second cousin and her son, Janis Ann Williams and Curtis Lawrence Williams of St. Louis.

She was preceded in death by her parents; the grandparents who raised her; uncles with whom she was raised; a cousin who was like a brother to her and his wife, Lawrence Franklin Williams and Dorothy Josephine Everding Williams; and a cousin who was like a sister to her, Sharon Rose Williams Harrell.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the chapel, with the Rev. Michael Shupert officiating. Burial will be in Union Park Cemetery in Chaffee.

Pallbearers will be Larry Dunger, Rusty Golightly, Matthew Porter, John Robinson, Kent Wells and John Wessel.

Memorials may be sent to the Missouri Baptist Children's Home, 11300 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044.