Deaconess Lillie Iola Smithson Adams was born February 20, 1914 to Anderson T. and Josephine Jennings Smithson in Lunenburg County.

She attended Lunenburg County Schools. She was baptized at the age of seven and joined Mt. Bethel Baptist Church, Kenbridge.

At the age of seventeen Lillie moved to White Plains, NY, where she lived with family and worked. Later at work she met James Adams and on March 1, 1932, they were married, to this union no children were born, but they helped raise many other family members’ children.

While in NY, they became members of Bethel Baptist Church in White Plains where they served until their retirement. After retirement they moved back to Virginia in 1974 and they joined St. Matthew’s Baptist Church, Kenbridge, where they served until their death. Mrs. Adams was a faithful member until her illness.

On Saturday, January 7, 2017 at 113 Hill Crest Lane, Kenbridge, the Lord called Lillie Iola Smithson Adams home to be with him. She is preceded in death by her parents, Anderson T. and Josephine Jennings Smithson, and siblings, John, Joseph, Raleigh, William, Willie, Tom, Elizabeth, Beulah, Ardell and Essie.

Leaving to cherish her memories are one brother, Donald (Geraldine) Smithson of Roseville, North Carolina; sisters–in-law, Fannie Smithson and Bertha Keller, both of White Plain, NY, and Mildred Smithson of Culpepper; brother-in-law, Edward (Rose) Adams of White Plains, NY; a loving god-daughter and niece, Gail Robinson of White Plains, NY; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A funeral service was held Saturday, January 14 at St. Matthew’s Baptist Church, Kenbridge, with interment in Smithson’s Family Cemetery, Victoria.

S.P. Jones Funeral Home, Victoria, served the family.