Elsie Adams

Elsie Gene Hodge Adams, a retired elementary school teacher, departed this life at the age of 103 on Saturday afternoon, January 13, 2024 at home in White Plains, NY. She was the daughter of the late Rev. Benjamin H. Hodge, Sr., a Baptist Minister, and Mary Morrison Hodge, an elementary school principal. She was the sister of the late Mildred Hodge, Alma Cole, and Benjamin H. Hodge, Jr.

She was born on April 16, 1920 in St. Paul, MN and grew up in Jacksonville and Orlando, FL. She graduated from Stanton HS, Edward Waters College, Florida A&M College (now FAMU) and received an MA in Education from New York University in 1956.

She and her late husband Benjamin E. Adams (1919-1966) were the parents of four daughters. In 2002 she ended a letter to her children, stating, “God bless each one of you. I treasure my life as your Mother – more than I can ever express.”

She taught public school in Orlando, FL, Baltimore, MD and White Plains, NY. She was among the first 10 Black teachers hired in the White Plains school system. After 21 years as a teacher at Eastview Elementary School, she retired in 1979. She was an adult literacy volunteer and coach, and a reading tutor. Education was always important to her. She encouraged many people to pursue their education and quietly helped them to achieve their goals.

Elsie Gene, as she was affectionately called, was an avid reader and lifelong learner. In mid life she studied Spanish, improved her swimming, learned to drive, and took piano lessons. She honed her creative skills in crewel embroidery, needlepoint, and crocheting.

A veteran letter writer, she received an award from the Orlando Sentinel for one of her letters to the editor. She even tried her hand at acrostic poetry by creating a Lenten bookmark for her church, Grace/La Gracia Episcopal, and several birthday tributes for family and friends.

As a woman of great faith, and the daughter of a Baptist minister, church was extremely important to her. When she became an Episcopalian, she was afraid to tell her father, but when she finally did, he remarked, “Daughter, we all serve the same God.”

At Grace, she taught Sunday School, served on the Vestry and on several Search Committees, wrote articles for the newsletter, and participated in SAGE (Seniors At Grace Episcopal).

She was an articulate, skilled debater, known for her dry wit. When interviewed for a profile in the Hudson Valley Magazine, she quipped, “My sense of humor keeps me sane.” She also attributed her longevity to “good genes and practicing moderation.”

She enjoyed travel and considered herself blessed to have had the opportunity to visit Europe, West Africa, the Caribbean, Canada, and several states in the US. She had the pleasure of taking her mother on her first cruise and her first plane ride.

In addition to her responsibilities as a wife, mother and teacher, she became a gardener and helped care for three dogs, Snoozy and Taffy in Baltimore, and later Marcus York Adams the First. When she faced challenges and crises in her life, she prayed, “God, give me the strength to cope with whatever happens.”

Elsie Gene was a kind, compassionate individual. She was a private person, who cared about others and was committed to helping others. In addition to her beloved girls, she claimed many of their friends as “5th daughters.”

She is survived by her daughters Joan Adams Dey (Robert), Cynthia Adams, Jeanette Adams, and Eris Adams; her nephew Benjamin H. Hodge, III (Deborah), niece Deborah Hodge Reeves (David); a grand-nephew Benjamin H. Hodge, IV (Donna); two grand-nieces Rashida Morgan and Kyra Morgan Robinson (Orlando); a step grandson Shawn Dey; two great-grand nieces Morgan Gilley and Lila Ray Hodge; cousins Mamie Adams Benjamin, Glynis Pierce, Dwayne Adams Pierce (Denise). She also leaves many dear and precious friends.

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ATTENTION: As we continue to phase back into smaller capacity public visitations/services amid the continuing COVID & various health concerns, we need your help in limiting/controlling the number of people, so please govern yourself accordingly for the health & safety of all. Thank you so kindly!

A Wake/Visitation will be held on Friday, January 26th from 4:00-6:00PM; and also on Sat., Jan. 27th from 11:00AM-12:15PM, with Funeral Service following on Sat. Jan. 27th at 12:30PM, ALL at Grace Episcopal Church. So you may come to the Church to attend, & feel free to wear masks. But the church will be live-streaming the Funeral Service on Sat. on their Facebook page, & so it'll also available on our website the day of the service where it says WATCH WEBCAST, so you're able to view on the church's Facebook page/our website/here also/instead. At the very least you can get hand sanitizer & sign the register book (NOTE: please feel free to bring your own pen). Regardless of if you're able/desiring to enter/be seated, or not, please refrain from too much touching/hugging/handshaking, preferably elbow bumping briefly if at all. If instructed, PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY leave the building & premises if the church is at their capacity. PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home staff and/or church personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & policies, so as to make all go smoothly the days of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the funeral home and/or church, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.

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The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that Elsie Gene Adams & family entrusted her care & the care of their loved one to us, and that she & they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Family of Elsie Gene Adams during their time of bereavement.

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Please leave written condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in her honor, whether you're able to attend or not. Definitely Please SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing the register book, especially if choosing to stay safe/not able to sign in person.

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Please feel free to come to the church wearing a mask, & social distance as much as possible. If you know you have a coronavirus/COVID-19; are sick/experiencing symptoms of coronavirus/COVID-19; are immuno-compromised and/or have health/other conditions that make your body more susceptible to illness, please do NOT attend any services nor come to either facility. Please feel free to bring & use your own pen for signing the family's register book - you are encouraged to please BRING & use your own PEN for signing. Please follow & abide by the rules of the church, and directions of the funeral home staff and/or church personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & any policies, so as to make all go smoothly the day of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the church and/or funeral home, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.

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As a lasting tribute, the family would appreciate donations be made in her name/memory/honor to Grace Church (address herein under Service Location), and/or you may choose to plant a tree in her name/memory/honor. If sending flowers despite the family's request, sending small plants or vases is preferable & may be delivered on either on Friday, Jan. 26th, 2024 by/before 2:00PM to Lee's Funeral Home; or on Friday, Jan. 26th between 3:30-4:00PM to Grace Episcopal Church or Sat., Jan. 27th by 11AM to Grace Episcopal Church. The Family Thanks You!