Maurice L. Adams Christopher A. Simmons
Twas the night before Christmas on Dec. 24, 1975, at 3:43 a.m., William Mack Adams and Glodine E. White received a special gift from God, it was the birth of their son, Maurice Lamont Adams. He was one that was gifted, talented, charismatic, energetic, vibrant, flamboyant, in the sense that he tended to attract attention because of his exuberance, confidence and stylishness, and he was full of life.
Maurice attended the Hot Springs School System. He loved playing in the Trojan Band. He made history when he became the first African-American to become a drum major. Not only was he the drum major, on Jan. 23,
1993, the Hot Springs community was tuned into the television to watch the Hot Springs High Trojan Band as they marched down Pennsylvania Avenue to play in the Inaugural Parade honoring then President William Clinton, an alumnus of Hot Springs High School. Who was out front lending the band adorned in all white from head to toe showing all 32s, you guessed it, Drum Major Maurice Adams. He was a graduate of the Class of 1994. Maurice joined the United States Marine Corps, where he received an honorable medical discharge in 1995. He attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where he sang in the Vesper Choir, South Arkansas Community College in El Dorado, Ark., and the University of Arkansas Community College of Hope in Hope, Ark.
Maurice showed a love for people, music and most of all, a love for God, at an early age. He would start his music career by taking music lesson from Dr. Janice V. McCoy. He was the youngest student she ever taught and one of her first beginning at the age of
6. He played for numerous churches in Hot Springs and the surrounding area. He was a member of St. Mark Baptist Church and a former member of Union Baptist Church. He accepted his call to preach the word of God. On Sunday, April 23, 1995, he delivered his initial sermon at the Union Baptist Church.
Maurice was known for his designs of unique floral arrangements and clothes. He was the CEO and executive director of “Diamond Designs.” He has been featured in many fashion shows, newspapers and magazines for his outstanding work. Maurice never missed an opportunity to make someone shine, being it with a floral design, a fashionable hat or a bling outfit, Maurice Adams was your guy! He was willing and capable of decorating the church sanctuary for special occasions, weddings, your home or whatever the need.
On Monday morning, Oct.
28, 2019, around the same hour as he was born, the Lord saw that he was getting tired and whispered in his ear for his servant to come home.
Those completing the journey before him include his maternal grandparents and great-grandparents, Ivery and Betty White Sr., Ivery White Jr.; paternal grandparents, James and Rosa Adams; uncle, James Adams; his cousins, Joshua White, Jeremy Duvall, Jason Moon and Richard Anderson.
Survivors include his loving and devoted mother, Glodine E. White; his father, William Mack Adams; his grandmother whom he loved to the moon and back, Estaleen “Red” White; loving and caring aunts and uncles, Ivery White, Dennis (Mary Ann) White, Robert Lee (Jo) White, Hebert (Angela) White, Bettie Lou Wilson, Ann M. White, Frankie (Patricia) White, Margie Anderson and Charles Adams; a host of loving cousins and extended family and friends that span across the world.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, at St. Mark Baptist Church, Hot Springs, Ark. Burial will follow in Crestview Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from
5-7 p.m. today at the church. The requested colors for the service is any combination of black and red with blingbling.
Guest registry is at http:// www.carriganmemorial.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Carrigan Memorial Funeral Services.
Christopher “Chris” A. Simmons, 50, of Hot Springs, died Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019.
Services are 10 a.m. Saturday in the Davis-Smith Funeral Home chapel, Hot Springs, with the Rev. Wallace A. Simmons officiating.
Interment will be in Ozark Lithia Cemetery. Visitation is 6-8 p.m. today. Guest registry is at http:// www.davis-smith.com.