Larry Britt Adams

Larry Britt Adams was born on All Saints’ Day 1961 to Judy and Johnny Bell. He was raised by his grandparents, Wilma and Norman Adams. He called Wilma his mother, and she describes him as “a little devil, but a sweet little youngin’.” He grew up with his older sister Lori, and they shared a horse, Chico. When he was a teenager, his brother, Robert, and sister Rhonda joined the family. He attended Marshall High School, and he drove his sister to school in his Ford Mustang. He became a journeyman electrician and the father of Lauren Brittney Adams in 1986. His father and grandfather played the guitar, and Larry was a natural guitarist. In the 1990s, he was the lead singer and guitarist for Stagebrush, a band with his cousins.

In October of 2001, he met Tia, who became his wife on January 4, 2003. They raised a daughter together named Kalea Dawn Mathre-Adams. Larry began working overseas in Managua, Nicaragua in 2006. He worked on the US Embassy project there for a year. Then he continued to work overseas. During this time, he also continued his education to earn an associates degree in Electrical Engineering. In 2008, he moved the family to Antananarivo, Madagascar, where they lived for 2 years. Then they lived in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from 2011 to 2013. He travelled extensively for work. He was a thermographer for the last five years, and he was on a job in Ethiopia when he became ill in July of 2018. When he arrived in Zambia, he was hospitalized on July 14, 2018, and flown directly to Johannesburg, South Africa for intensive care. He received his cancer diagnosis of Diffused Large B-Cell Lymphoma on July 17, 2018. His daughter and wife flew to South Africa to be by his bedside as he was treated for his disease. He was able to recover enough to be flown to MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas on August 18, 2018. He was able to arise from his hospital bed and walk down the stairs of the plane on to Texas soil. He was very proud to be a Texan!

Larry had a passion and zest for life, and he filled the room with joy and humor. He was kind and generous, and he made many friends along the way. He helped where he could. He believed in giving people a hand up not a hand out. He served others and he trained many electricians. He served as a mentor to his cousins and friends. He had a rock solid faith. He grew up in the Church of Christ, and became a Lutheran in his 40s. He always believed.

He battled cancer as best he could for 4 months. He was brave, courageous and strong! He was in pain and suffering much of the time. He found peace towards the end. He was surrounded by family and friends. He passed in his sleep. His love, hope, and guidance will live through us. He lives on through our memories and stories of his amazing life. The world is a better place, because it was touched by this angel, Larry Britt Adams.

Larry is survived by his wife, Tia Mathre-Adams, his daughters, Lauren Adams and Kalea Mathre-Adams, his mother, Wilma Adams, his sister, Lori White, his brother, Robert Adams, his sister, Rhonda Wooten (Giff Wooten) sister-in-law, Erica Smith (David Smith), niece, Chapin Smith, Godson and nephew Luke Smith, nephew Adam White (Pricilla White), great-nephew Brandon White, and several cousins including Paula (Ollie) Oliver, Mike (Michelle) Stevens, Deano (Tanya) Stevens, L’Lee Cameron, and John Paul Stevens.

Oh, the songs he sang, and the stories he told! He was a great storyteller and singer. May he rest in eternal peace in the loving arms of our savior, until we meet again.

Please join us for a celebration of his life memorial service at House of Prayer Lutheran Church on Saturday, November 24, 2108 at 3:00pm at 10226 Ironside, just off of Wurzbach.