NEWPORT NEWS — Jane Tweeddale Adams, passed away July 14, 2021. Jane was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and teacher. She was born in Bellerose, New York which is also where she met and eventually married her first and only love, Richard “Dick” Adams.
Jane lived a full life that was grounded in her tremendous faith in God. In fact, many who knew her lovingly referred to her as “Saint Jane”. She relied on Him to guide her through every step and decision in her life. Jane demonstrated her personal relationship with her Savior as she helped everyone by sewing and mending clothes, feeding the homeless in street ministries and shelters, and watching and caring for children or elderly friends to name a few. She was truly a blessing to all who knew her.
Jane was a dedicated member of Second Presbyterian Church. She considered her church family just an extension of her own family. Jane participated in women’s circles, taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and even drove the church bus. She cooked for the youth group, sewed costumes for church plays, and taught Bible School. Jane was a leader in the church and served many times as an elder or deacon. Later in life, she also attended Peninsula Community Chapel as well as church services at Colonial Harbor Independent Living Facility and Warwick Forest.
Jane earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Christopher Newport College and a Master of Arts degree in Education with an emphasis in Reading, Writing and Literacy from the College of William and Mary. She was instrumental in starting a preschool at Second Presbyterian Church where she taught and ultimately became the director. Later she became a teacher for Newport News Public Schools. She began as a first-grade teacher at Hidenwood Elementary School and later taught at Jenkins Elementary School where she was a reading specialist. Jane never considered teaching as work but as a privilege to help children and their families.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Richard Ray Adams; her parents, Percy Bramwell Tweeddale and Mabel Anna Reinhardt; her brothers, William “Bill” Tweeddale and James “Jim” Tweeddale; and her sister, Marilyn Brennan. She leaves to cherish her memories her daughter, Sherilyn Adams Brown and son, Mark Richard Adams; two granddaughters, Samantha Jane Brown and Jaimie Alison Brown; sister and brother-in-law, Evlyn and Paul Shipman and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, October 10, 2021 at Denbigh United Presbyterian Church, 302 Denbigh Blvd, Newport News, Virginia, 23608. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests that memorials be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org. The family would like to thank all of Jane’s doctors, caregivers, and friends for their care and support throughout the later years of her life.
Celebration of Life Service: 2:00 p.m., Sunday, October 10, 2021
Location: Denbigh United Presbyterian Church