Willie F. Adams

Willie Frank Adams was born on January 17, 1940 in Smithville, Georgia to Jaroney Adams and Marie (Martin) Glenn.  He moved to Middletown, Ohio at an early age with his mother and sisters.  He attended Middletown City Schools. 

Willie developed a love for cooking, especially pies. He turned a negative into a positive when he found himself incarcerated and assigned to be a cook.  It was here he perfected his skills and grew to be a wonderfully gifted self-taught chef. 

Upon his release, Willie took his skills and began working for the Duff’s Smorgasbord Corporation. This would be the beginning of a journey that would take him across the country.  The owner of the Duff Corporation was so impressed with Willie’s skills that he offered him the opportunity to travel  opening new Duff’s locations throughout Ohio, Florida and Louisiana as the Head Chef teaching and developing new recipes.

While employed at Duffs, he met the love of his life, Sandra Byrd, his wife of 51 years. Sandra was a devoted and loving wife.  They were a playful couple that loved to travel so it made it easy for Sandra to support Willie as they moved from location to location opening new restaurants. 

Sandra remained a loving, carrying and supportive wife, nursing Willie as his health failed and was unable to do for himself. In his final weeks, she remained by his side doing much of the nursing of his care herself until he took his last breath. 

Willie had a deep love for the Lord.  He gave his life to the Lord at an early age and loved to read his bible.  He loved to talk about his faith and love.  One thing he was not shy about spreading was love.  He always greeted you with a great big smile and hearty laughter. Making others smile and laugh was a signature trait that will be missed. 

Willie was preceded in death by both his parents, three sisters Helen Long, Mildred Gaston and Olamae Pearson, sister-in-law Joanne Cauley.

Willie and Sandra had no children of their own, but the love of the many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and life-long friends James Gates, Freddy Nori and great neighbor Terry Brown will carry the love and memories of Willie knowing that he loved them all dearly.

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