Beth Miller Adams

Beth (Lemons) (Miller) Adams, a sister, loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on August 5, 2024, at the age of 82. She was born on May 3, 1942, in Amarillo, Texas, to the late Robert Wayne Lemons and Mary Frances Best.

Beth grew up in Hereford, Texas, and graduated from Hereford High School in 1960. In high school, she was active in the Rainbow Girls and Choir, was a Thespian, high school cheerleader, and the Student Body Vice President. After high school, she attended Eastern New Mexico University in Portales and graduated in 1964 with a B.S. in Elementary Education and History. Beth was a charter member of the Delta Phi chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority while at ENMU. Beth received a Special Education Endorsement degree from Texas A&I Kingsville in 1978 and a Master of Science with Reading Specialization from Corpus Christi State University in 1985. Beth began her 35-year teaching career in Farwell, Texas in 1964, then taught in Amarillo, TX and Denver, CO before moving to Corpus Christi in 1971. In 1972 Beth began teaching for Tuloso-Midway I.S.D where she remained till her retirement in 1999. Throughout her career, she taught various grades and subjects from 1st through 5th grades, special education, and various subjects at the Alternate Education Center and Academic Career Center. She loved being a teacher, when asked, she often said she loved 3rd and 4th grade best.

Beth was a Life Member of the Texas State Teachers Association and served as President, Secretary, Treasurer, faculty representative, and member of various committees. She was also a member of the National Education Association and inducted into the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. Beth was remembered by many of her students who stayed in touch with Mrs. Adams after her retirement. Her memory was such that she would recognize the names, or even faces, of past students and those related to past students on more than one occasion. She always enjoyed catching up and hearing about their lives.

Beth married Jack Miller in 1962 and had two children, Julie and Samuel, prior to their divorce. In 1980 she married Virgil Adams, and welcomed his children, Tracie, Wayne and David. After the blending of their families, they added to the family with Denise’s birth. Now they officially had a “His, hers, and ours”.

Beth was a kind and generous person with a sharp memory. She was definitely the person you wanted on your trivial pursuit team. Her grandchildren were often told, “Before there was Google we asked Grandma!” Her hobbies included crewel needlework, computers, and reading. After her retirement, she and Virgil were active in the local Bromeliad Society and enjoyed more opportunities to travel. Later in life she enjoyed card games with grandkids and seemed to have quite the lucky streak with bingo and poker. She loved spending time with her family and friends, especially her grandchildren, who brought her much joy and laughter.

Many who knew Beth are aware she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 1993. This ultimately led to her retirement from the teaching she loved so much. After diagnosis, she and her husband Virgil were active with the local MS Society for many years. Beth benefited from much of the MS research and participated in trial medications which allowed her to live with MS into her 80s. Because of this important research and advancements, many friends and family got extra time with her and many of her grandchildren were able to get to know their grandmother. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the MS Society in Beth's memory. https://donate.nationalmssociety.org/campaign/Beth-Miller-Adams

Beth is survived by her children, Julie Thigpen(Chris), Samuel “Sam” Miller(Krista), Denise Adams, David Adams (Starla), Tracie Davis, and Wayne Adams; grandchildren, Natalie Thigpen, Rachel Miller, Evelyn Miller, Riley Miller, Chris Adams, Nick Adams, Trisha Mcchester, Brandon Templeman, and 12 great-grandchildren; sister, Kay Boynton(Jay); and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Jack Miller in 1994, her husband Virgil Adams in 2008; brother, Charles Robert “Robby” Lemmons in 2017; and granddaughter, Stephanie Sasser in 2020.

A memorial service will be held on August 24, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Memory Gardens Funeral Home, 8200 Old Brownsville Rd, Corpus Christi, Tx. The family will receive visitors prior to the memorial service from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

--