Jerry attended NCSU and graduated from Campbell with a degree in business admin. in 1966. He joined the National Guard with Basic at Fort Ord, California. A dream came true when he was accepted to flight school at Fort Walters, Texas, and then received his wings after graduating from Army Aviation School (Rotor Wing) at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He loved his weekends flying helicopters (and joking) with his flight buddies (his other family). In 1971 another dream came true when he became an SBI Agent. He loved having the flexibility with his state job to easily become activated and fly state duties (such as disaster relief from the coast to the mountains, combatting forest fires in California, flying drug eradication, and being honored that the Golden Knights would ask for him to "drop" them over celebrations). The adventurous work life of a SBI Agent was rewarding until it was going to take his family to far from Benson! He then became a bank executive with First Federal Bank (until computers became relevant and took all the fun out of meeting, talking and joking with clients)! He was thrilled to get back into law enforcement (cruising Johnston, Harnett and Wake counties) with DMV enforcing motor vehicle regulations, but was not to fond of issuing citations and waiting in court all day. He retired from DMV Friday, September 30, 2001, and was activated by the U.S. Army on the following Monday. He was Army Chief of Security at RDU Airport and was later sent to New York to fly border patrol at Niagra Falls. In 2002, Jerry went to Kuwait to install GPS equipment. Then in 2004 while training for deployment to Iraq, Jerry fell and thought that was what weakened his left hand. He could not deploy but was placed on medical hold at Fort Bragg. After a year of going to doctors and continued muscle weakness, and having unexpected 5-bypass heart surgery, he was diagnosed with ALS/ Lou Gehrig's Disease. He continued working for the injured troops as liason upon their arrival back at Bragg. He retired form active duty in November 2005. Jerry lost his battle with ALS on November 21, 2006. Jerry kept his wit, humor and good-natured teasing that he developed at BHS until the very end.
I was so involved in letting Jerry's classmates and friends know he loved and lived life to the fullest and realized his dreams come true, that I almost forgot to say, after he received his flight wings he came home and married me in 1971. We were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Heather born in 1973 and Laura born in 1977. He found time from his career to be a wonderful husband and father, supporting and giving us many great memories (allowing his oldest daughter attend UNC while sending his youngest to NCSU!). He finally got his boys when the girls married and lived within a few miles of us. His dreams continued to come true when he became granddaddy to Jarah in June 2003 and to Alyssa in November 2006. The dream that fell short was a little more time to play with his grandchildren. However, Jerry loved the Lord, he loved working in our church and giving his testimony (after the ALS diagnosis)where ever asked. Jerry knew God had a plan for him and he was humbled to fulfill that plan.
He is dearly missed, Drucilla McLamb Adams-----Class of 1967
Jerry was one of my best friends at BHS and I will always remember the good times we had at school and while "draggiing main" looking for girls, which we rarely seem to find. However in the end we both found two wonderful young ladies from Benson, no less. Even though our paths separated after the younger years, I can truly say that I loved Jerry Adams. I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to spend time with him during his illness. I will always remember the lunch at Stephenson's Barbeque with Jerry Currin and Larry Peacock. We had alot of fun that day. From my many discussions with him during his illness, I know that Jerry adored his family and that he had a personal relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Drucilla McLamb (Adams) (1967)
Jerry attended NCSU and graduated from Campbell with a degree in business admin. in 1966. He joined the National Guard with Basic at Fort Ord, California. A dream came true when he was accepted to flight school at Fort Walters, Texas, and then received his wings after graduating from Army Aviation School (Rotor Wing) at Fort Rucker, Alabama. He loved his weekends flying helicopters (and joking) with his flight buddies (his other family). In 1971 another dream came true when he became an SBI Agent. He loved having the flexibility with his state job to easily become activated and fly state duties (such as disaster relief from the coast to the mountains, combatting forest fires in California, flying drug eradication, and being honored that the Golden Knights would ask for him to "drop" them over celebrations). The adventurous work life of a SBI Agent was rewarding until it was going to take his family to far from Benson! He then became a bank executive with First Federal Bank (until computers became relevant and took all the fun out of meeting, talking and joking with clients)! He was thrilled to get back into law enforcement (cruising Johnston, Harnett and Wake counties) with DMV enforcing motor vehicle regulations, but was not to fond of issuing citations and waiting in court all day. He retired from DMV Friday, September 30, 2001, and was activated by the U.S. Army on the following Monday. He was Army Chief of Security at RDU Airport and was later sent to New York to fly border patrol at Niagra Falls. In 2002, Jerry went to Kuwait to install GPS equipment. Then in 2004 while training for deployment to Iraq, Jerry fell and thought that was what weakened his left hand. He could not deploy but was placed on medical hold at Fort Bragg. After a year of going to doctors and continued muscle weakness, and having unexpected 5-bypass heart surgery, he was diagnosed with ALS/ Lou Gehrig's Disease. He continued working for the injured troops as liason upon their arrival back at Bragg. He retired form active duty in November 2005. Jerry lost his battle with ALS on November 21, 2006. Jerry kept his wit, humor and good-natured teasing that he developed at BHS until the very end.I was so involved in letting Jerry's classmates and friends know he loved and lived life to the fullest and realized his dreams come true, that I almost forgot to say, after he received his flight wings he came home and married me in 1971. We were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Heather born in 1973 and Laura born in 1977. He found time from his career to be a wonderful husband and father, supporting and giving us many great memories (allowing his oldest daughter attend UNC while sending his youngest to NCSU!). He finally got his boys when the girls married and lived within a few miles of us. His dreams continued to come true when he became granddaddy to Jarah in June 2003 and to Alyssa in November 2006. The dream that fell short was a little more time to play with his grandchildren. However, Jerry loved the Lord, he loved working in our church and giving his testimony (after the ALS diagnosis)where ever asked. Jerry knew God had a plan for him and he was humbled to fulfill that plan.
He is dearly missed,
Drucilla McLamb Adams-----Class of 1967
Charles Ray Creech (1962)
Jerry was one of my best friends at BHS and I will always remember the good times we had at school and while "draggiing main" looking for girls, which we rarely seem to find. However in the end we both found two wonderful young ladies from Benson, no less. Even though our paths separated after the younger years, I can truly say that I loved Jerry Adams. I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to spend time with him during his illness. I will always remember the lunch at Stephenson's Barbeque with Jerry Currin and Larry Peacock. We had alot of fun that day. From my many discussions with him during his illness, I know that Jerry adored his family and that he had a personal relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ.