Funeral Services for Rev. Ronnie Adams, age 72 of Delta, will be held on Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 1:00 P.M. at Oak Hill Baptist Church in Oxford with Rev. Wayne Adams and Rev. Jerome Whaley officiating. Burial will follow at Ragan’s Chapel Cemetery in Delta.
Mr. Adams passed away on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at his home. A lifelong resident of Clay County, AL, Ronnie worked at Amerace in Lineville, AL, and later moved into management of Waffle Houses in Anniston and Gadsden, AL, and was assigned to locations in Georgia. Ronnie settled on a career with the Anniston Army Depot in Bynum, AL, retiring July 30, 2007, with 30 years of service.
Rita, at the age of 15, and Ronnie, at the age of 20, were married December 20, 1969, at Christiana Baptist Church in Lineville, AL. They would have been married 53 years in December 2021.
A turning point in Ronnie’s life was when he began singing bass with the Goldenaires gospel singing group in 1973 through the 1980’s. It was during this era that Ronnie felt God’s call to preach. After his ordination, he served as bi-vocational pastor at several churches in Alabama. The last church he pastored was Oak Hill Baptist Church, Oxford, AL, where he was pastor for 40 years, and until his death. Ronnie’s ministry was a crowning point in his life. He had rather be in the pulpit preaching than on a river bank somewhere fishing. His life and ministry are a legacy he leaves to his beloved family, friends, and church family. Ronnie’s favorite Bible verse was Mark 7:37: “And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’ ”
Spending time with his family, teaching everyone how to ski, and visiting with all ages who came in and out of his life were favorite past times he thoroughly enjoyed. Ronnie will be remembered by most for sitting for hours talking about the thing nearest and dearest to his heart – his Lord and Savior.
Ronnie is survived by his wife of 52 years: Rita Gay (Higgins) Adams of Delta; two sons: Rondell Shane Adams (Amanda) of Ranburne and Kevin Lee Adams (Rebecca) of Delta; one daughter, Tanya Faith (Adams) Smith of Delta; 8 grandchildren: Paige (Adams) Simpkins (Kane), Ella Adams, Garrett Cooper, Trent Adams (Jessica), Austin Adams (Candace), Brooklyn Adams, Brody, Kane and Haven Smith; seven great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and a large extended family.
Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents, H. B. and Vista (Mitchell) Adams, paternal grandparents, B.T. and Ista (Wade) Adams, and maternal grandparents, Jurd and Flossie (Miller) Mitchell, and one grandson, Grant Cooper.
Pallbearers are Garrett Cooper, Trent Adams, Austin Adams, Brody and Kane Smith, Kelly, Richie and Steven Adams.
Honorary pallbearers are Willie Bachus, Harold Feazell, Alfred Maddox, and Scott Willis.
His visitation will be at Benefield Funeral Home in Lineville on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 from 5:00 to 8:00 P.m. and until 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday. He will lie in state one hour at Oak Hill Baptist Church from 12:00 P.M. until service time at 1:00 P.M. The address for Oak Hill Baptist Church is 1301 County Line Road, Oxford, AL 36203.
Benefield Funeral Home in Lineville is in charge of services.
