Anthony "Mark" Adams

Anthony “Mark” Adams of Coatesville, Pennsylvania (formerly of Haw River/Burlington), age 63, passed away on November 9, 2018 at Hospice and Pallative Care Center of Alamance-Caswell.

Mark graduated from Eastern Alamance High School in 1973.  He worked at Annedeen Hosiery in Burlington before becoming a Burlington police officer, March 1977 to October 1991.  While at Burlington Police Department, he ushered in the K9 program, along with his partner, Roman, a Belgian Malinois.  Mark was also instrumental in bringing to Burlington the K9 Trials held at City Park.  He and Roman were inseparable, and it was hard for Mark to turn Roman over to another family after he left the force. 

After leaving the police force in 1991, he went to work in Florida to learn jewelry repair, eventually landing a job at Goldsmith in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, situated directly where the cruise ships dock.  It was in St. Thomas he met his wife, Jody-who worked in St. Thomas, and Myrt and Morrison Coulter when they cruised and stopped at Goldsmith (from Paoli, PA).  Myrt and Morrison were instrumental in helping Mark (and Jody) to find employment in Pennsylvania, with Mark eventually working for Aqua Water in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

Mark and Jody packed up their belongings and placed them on a ship for transport, plane tickets in hand, to head to Florida then drive to NC just before beginning their new jobs in Pennsylvania.  Hurricane Marilyn changed those plans somewhat, destroying all they had except for the car on the transporter.  Once they were able to get off the Islands and to Florida and drive their vehicle to NC for a short visit, they headed to their new home in West Chester, Pennsylvania.  Mark worked at Aqua until his retirement due to disability in January 2017.  He was a Master Mason at Williamson Lodge 0309 in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.

In addition to his parents, G.T. (“Skip”) and Margaret Adams, Mark was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents James Clarence Adams, Sr. and Bessie Nicholson Adams, and his maternal grandparents Winfred and Lula Franklin. 

Survivors include his wife, Jody, of the home, sister Debbie Brown (Tom) of Haw River, niece Brandy Schultz (Josh) of Haw River, nephew Jason Brown (Marla Gebaide) of Centreville, Virginia, grandnieces/grandnephew Madelyn and Savannah Schultz and Orion Thomas Scott Gebaide-Brown, aunt Jacquelyn Andrews (Sam) of Durham and several cousins. 

Jason described Mark the best:  My uncle loved me and my sister like we were his own kids. I am heartbroken that he is gone but also relieved that he is no longer suffering as he had been suffering for far too long. It’s hard to really put it all into words so I will just say that I am thankful for the time I had with him. Though he gave me many gifts (and cool knives) throughout the years, I am most thankful for the wonderful memories of a kind, funny, and warm-hearted man. Rest In Peace Uncle Mark.

The family will receive friends at 3:00 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 23, 2018 at Omega Funeral Service, 2120 May Drive, Burlington, NC.  Anyone who wishes to share special memories of Mark are welcome to speak.

The family is deeply appreciative of the love, medical care and emotional support provided to Mark and our entire family by the health care providers and staff at Hospice of Alamance-Caswell.

Memorials may be sent to Hospice of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215.  An online guestbook and obituary is available at www.omegafsc.com.  Arrangements are in the care of Omega Funeral Service & Crematory.

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