Claire Courtney Adams died on December 23, 2021 in Alexandria, Virginia, after a few years of declining health. Claire was born on April 30, 1955, in Newton, North Carolina, to Virginia Ellis Adams and the Reverend Gilreath G. Adams. Jr. Over the years she lived in the North Carolina towns of Maiden, Gastonia, Troutman, Asheville, and Charlotte while her father served in local United Methodist churches. Despite all the moving from place to place, Claire maintained high marks in school, graduating with honors from Myers Park High School in 1973. She then pursued a degree in Political Science from Duke University, completing that in three years. From there she moved to Washington, DC, to attend Georgetown University, where she earned her Masters' degree in Government and International Studies in 1978. This paved the way for her joining the US Marshals Service in August of that same year where she worked until her retirement in December 2010. As dubbed by her grandniece, "my friend, Aunt Claire", she was indeed a friend of all – her classmates, college pals, USMS coworkers, fellow church members – no one ever remained a stranger around Claire!
After her retirement, she volunteered in her church office until late 2018 when she was involved in an auto accident. St. Matthews UMC in Annandale, Virginia, along with her previous churches (Arlington UMC in Arlington, Virginia and Wesley UMC in Vienna, Virginia) were blessed by her contributions in choir, handbells, guitar, and creating displays for retreats and conferences, especially for the UM Women for whom she also served in many leadership roles over the years.
Claire was predeceased by her parents. She is survived by her sister Reatha A. Andrew of Charlotte; her niece Amanda A. Bradshaw of Mooresville; and her grandniece Virginia C. Bradshaw and grandnephew Oliver K. Bradshaw, both of Huntersville.
A service celebrating Claire's life will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Myers Park UMC, 1501 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC. The service will be livestreamed and accessible via the church's website: www.myersparkumc.org. The family will receive friends at the church following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to MPUMC (memo: Walter H. Ball Endowment Fund for Music) either via the church website (see above) or by mailing checks to the address (also found above).
Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC; 28204 (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.

 

Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service - Charlotte

1321 Berkeley Avenue

Charlotte, NC