Adelaide Hiott Cape passed away at the age of 83 on September 9, 2026, in Huntsville. Known as ‘Bug’ to her family because of her fondness for ladybugs, Adelaide was celebrated for her civic engagement, volunteer spirit, and support for military veterans.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, to Victoria (Moorhead) and Julian Hiott, Adelaide was raised in Easley and graduated from Easley High School, where she was crowned Miss Green Wave. She also represented Easley in the Miss South Carolina pageant where she was a finalist, placing first in the evening gown competition in a dress she made and later wore in her wedding. She graduated from Anderson College with an associate’s degree in home economics and was gifted in several art forms including sewing, decorating, and calligraphy, talents that she shared among the many organizations she supported throughout her life.
Adelaide and Jim were married in 1964 and soon began their journey with the Army, which included three tours at Redstone Arsenal as well as Greensburg, Pennsylvania; Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; Kwajalein Missile Range, Marshall Islands; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey; Fort Lee, Virginia; Heidelberg, Germany; and Fort McPhearson, Georgia. Upon Jim’s retirement from the Army, they returned to Huntsville in 1986.
In Huntsville, Adelaide worked at Weatherly Baptist Church, the Madison County Medical Society and Parisian (later Belk). She was active in the Veterans Coalition and was the volunteer coordinator for Honor Flight. She was a member at Latham United Methodist Church for more than 30 years and more recently at Trinity United Methodist Church. She found her passion through service with the du Midi Woman’s Club where she served in multiple positions over the years, including a term as President and as a long-time sponsor for the Les Belles Juniorettes.
Adelaide and Jim enjoyed music and theater, travel, and socializing with their wine club, but she always made time for her grandchildren. She was a constant presence in their lives, whether cheering them on in sports, dance and theater or making elaborate birthday cakes and their favorite treats. Her home was always open for sleepovers and sick days, and Christmas Eve at Bug & Pop’s with kids piled in every room is a special memory for her family.
Adelaide battled oral cancer for more than a year before her body succumbed, but her spirit lives on in the many people who loved her. She will be missed by her husband, Jim; her children, Lucia Cape & Mark Torstenson, Chris and Vicki (Eastin) Cape, and Karen (Cape) and Tom Matheney, and her grandchildren, Catherine (Cape) and Clark Dunn, Connor Matheney, Davis Matheney, Jesse Cape, James Cape, Emma Cape, Eleanor Matheney, Evelyn Torstenson, and Julian Torstenson. The family would like to thank Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care for making her final days comfortable and peaceful.
A celebration of Adelaide’s life will be held on Thursday, Sept. 17, at Trinity United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the service from 1 to 2 p.m. Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite colors.
In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Adelaide are encouraged to the U.S. Veterans Memorial in Huntsville (2060-A Airport Road SW, Huntsville AL 35801), to du Midi Woman’s Club (PO Box 2902, Huntsville AL 35804), or to the Huntsville Hospital Foundation (www.huntsvillehospitalfoundation.org).
