Penelope Estess Adams Davis
January 23, 1943 – February 17, 2025
Penny died early in the morning of February 17, 2025, President’s Day… at least according to her death certificate. In fact, like most everything in her life, she was early, having breathed her last shortly before midnight on the 16th. She just hated being late. In fact, she was so used to being first that when she began to date her husband, Sam, he made the mistake of walking too fast for her. She was quick to remind him that, where she is from, a woman walks in front of a man, not the other way around. Sam says he never made that
mistake again.
Penny was born in 1943 to Sam and Daphna Estess of Canton, MS. She has one younger brother, Sam Jr. of Dallas, TX. After college she moved to Huntsville. There, she met the love of her life, Frank Adams. They were married by the time she was 24, until Frank’s death in 2006. They had three kids, Greg (Carmen), Sharon (Tab) and Debbie (Andy Ratliff). They had an amazing marriage that led to seven grandchildren (Andy, Jeff, Ben, Jake, Sam, Sydney, Sawyer) and five great-grandchildren (so far). Penny was especially honored that the youngest great-grand is named after her.
Most people who knew Penny would say that she was a force to be reckoned with. Pretty much everyone said that the only person ever to truly be able to tame that force was Frank. Her kids can attest that a quiet, “Penny, that’s enough.,” uttered by Frank did wonders when Penny would get a little too fierce. They were quite a pair.
Penny met the second love of her life at church. She and Frank and Sam and Jeanette had been friends before the loss of Frank and Jeanette. When Frank died, she said she would never remarry. Thankfully, she came to her senses and married Sam in 2011 which led to a wonderful 13 years together. Robert (Katie) came as part of the package which surprisingly turned Penny from a relatively ambivalent sports fan to an honest to goodness Auburn fan.
Penny loved travel. Unfortunately, Frank became ill just about the time they could start to travel extensively. When she and Sam married, her travel dream came true. They traveled Europe, Russia, the Mediterranean, South America, Asia, Australia, and then during COVID, countless cruises. They made friends all over the world on those trips. Penny’s stated goal was to spend her last nickel as she drew her last breath. She did not succeed but she sure gave it the old college try.
Penny was frightened of very few things, though cancer would be one of those. She always said that she would not get aggressive treatment if she ended up with cancer. True to her word, that is how she dealt with it when cancer arrived. We all feel so blessed that she died as she lived, with dignity and a fierceness few could match. Most importantly, as the time approached, Penny did not dally. Instead, she quickly ran head long into the arms of Jesus, not wasting any time. She would not be late, even in death.
There will be a visitation at Laughlin Service Funeral Home on Saturday February 22 from 12:30 to 2:30 in the afternoon. A short graveside service will follow at 3 p.m. at Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for Second Mile Development or the American Cancer Society.
