John William Adams

Please note: the sound file begins with the final few seconds of the memoirs of the memorial service soloist, and concludes with the assembly's singing of "Amazing Grace", John's favorite hymn.

A lifetime citizen of Monmouth County New Jersey, John Adam's keen interest in firefighting and emergency service work was legendary. His long career in that field included membership or honorary membership in several organizations, such as Middletown's Emergency Management Team and the Fire Department's Air Unit and Station 8. He was most recently a part of the Cliffwood Volunteer Fire Dept.

"Johnny" was an indispensably helpful resource for the residents of Alice V. Tomaso Plaza in Middletown, where he and his widowed mother lived for many years. He served as a custodian of the Middletown Board of Election's voting record books. He was known and loved by the men and women of the Middletown Police Department, where he could often be found running errands for the staff, or helping out when classes of schoolchildren toured the department.

A founding member of New Life Presbyterian Church, John loved to serve as a greeter and an usher for worship services, and in helping to run the sound system. He was always willing to set up and break down tables and chairs for special events, and to serve and help in the ministry of the church in any way he could. He will be remembered by his congregation for his exemplary Christian humility and gentleness.

At the time of his death, John was living in the Cliffwood Beach section of Aberdeen Township with the associate pastor of New Life Presbyterian Church and his wife, Keith and Jeanette Graham. The Grahams had the privilege of serving John as his guardians in his final few years. While in Cliffwood Beach, John had worked cheerfully as a volunteer at the Keyport Senior Residence, as well as at the Keyport Police Dept. He was employed for a time at the Cliffwood A & P supermarket.

John was predeceased by his parents, John Wesley and Ruth Henrietta Adams. He is survived by many loving cousins and other relatives. He will be sorely missed by his church family as well as by his special friend Miss Mary Daly and by many, many other friends. John had a big smile and greeting for anyone he met. He was the kind of man who seemed to know and like everybody, and to be known and liked by everybody in return.

He was born on December 20, 1946. While he slept in the early morning hours of Thursday, July 27, 2006, John William Adams quietly left all earthly disability, toil, and sorrow and entered the glorious presence of His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to enjoy perfect bliss and peace forever.