Elcie Adams
- Howell Funeral Homes
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Service
Tuesday, January 6, 2026|Wake: 11:00 a.m. |Service Time: 12:00 p.m.
Howell Funeral Home| 10220 Guilford Road| Jessup, Maryland 20794
Celebration of Life for Elcie Adams
Interment
Arlington National Cemetery| Arlington, Virginia
TBA
Elcie “Joe” Adams
CPT (USA, ret.) Elcie Adams, known to family and friends as Joe, passed away on Monday, December 22, 2025, at Loch Raven VA Community Living and Rehabilitation Center, Baltimore, MD, at age 90.
CPT Adams was born on December 2, 1935, in Shannon, MS, to Elgie Adams and Zelda Bean. Raised in East St. Louis, IL, he was the first in his family to graduate from college. A fraternity brother in Kappa Alpha Psi and an ROTC cadet, he was commissioned Regular Army and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO in 1960, with a major in Physical Education and a minor in History. A career U.S. Army officer, CPT Adams served heroically despite widespread discrimination and the residual effects of segregation in the military, leading a mech infantry company with the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam, performing feats that earned him a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts. With the mother of his three younger daughters, Marguerite, CPT Adams was stationed in: Ft. Knox, KY; Ft. Richardson, AK; Ft. Benning, GA; Worms, Germany; and Ft. Meade, MD. Upon medical retirement from the Army, CPT Adams spent 20 years in sales and management for Montgomery Ward and Hecht’s/Macy’s, working in Annapolis, Baltimore, and Glen Burnie, MD as an award-winning employee. Cpt. Adams loved to sing, anchoring the bass section of the Ft. Meade Chapel choir for many years; he found joy in sports, having bowled and coached Little League baseball as a young officer, and keeping baseball, football, and basketball on the TV through old age; and his culinary skills remain a family legend. He will be remembered by all who knew and loved him for his kindness, generosity, and gentlemanliness.
CPT Adams was predeceased by his parents, and by his youngest daughter Vicki Adams-Brenner. He is survived by his wife, Charlene Curtis Adams; daughters Regina Adams, Dr. Krystie Herndon (Timothy), and Audrey Bigelow (Michael); stepson Chad Creek; brother, Elgie Adams; nine grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
A wake for CPT Adams will be held from 11 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Howell Funeral Home, 10220 Guilford Road, Jessup, MD, with funeral service to immediately follow at noon. Internment at Arlington National Cemetery will be at a later date.