Tarleton Jones “TJ” Adams (born Nancy Jeanne Jones) died Jan. 8, 2008 at Archbold Memorial Hospital after a brief illness with cancer.
She was born June 15, 1943, in Indianapolis, and, in 1997, married Gus Adams, a lifelong friend and soulmate.
She was director of the Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival at the Thomasville Cultural Center for the past two years and brought vast visionary and marketing experience to this position. Her community service extended to the Thomasville Rotary Club, where she made many contributions as a director.
Her special love for animals led her to rescue many animals and to support the Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society. She led high performance marketing teams in Fortune 500 companies for 20 years. Her proudest professional accomplishments included being vice president of marketing of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau and a founding member for the Florida Chapter of the International Women's Forum where she inspired generations of young professionals.
She was also responsible for creating Florida’s first corporate art program garnering two governor’s and White House awards. Friends of TJ called her bold, visionary, passionate and driven. She faced life with zeal and never backed away from a challenge. Her enthusiasm was contagious to those around her.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Jeanne Crawley of Burnsville, N.C., and uncle, Harry Copeland of Miami.
Survivors include her loving husband, Gus Adams of Thomasville; three children, Alix (Coleman) Mills of Fairhope, Leigh Adams and Samantha English of Jacksonville, Fla.; grandchildren, Georgia, Rosie, Caden, Gus; aunt, Dorothy Copeland of Spain; sister, Marcia; many friends across the country, who have been inspired by her; and her beloved pets Buster, Marco, Lulu, Blitz, Macy and Mac.
Services were held Saturday, Jan. 12 at First United Methodist Church, Thomasville. A reception followed at Pebble Hill Plantation.
The family requests memorial donations be made to Thomasville-Thomas County Humane Society, 180 Big Star Drive, Thomasville, GA 31757.
Arrangements were made by Whiddon-Shiver Funeral Home, Thomasville.
