Ada J. Hare

Visitation will be held at Fort Lincoln Funeral Home, 3401 BLADENSBURG RD, BRENTWOOD, MD 20722, US, on September 29, 2026, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.

A Celebration of Life will take place at Fort Lincoln Funeral Home, 3401 BLADENSBURG RD, BRENTWOOD, MD 20722, US, on September 29, 2026, from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm.

Ada Jane Hare was born on July 30, 1933, in Troy, Alabama, to the late James H. Downing and Mollie Downing. On September 12, 2026, Ada peacefully entered eternal rest, leaving behind a beautiful legacy of faith, strength, compassion, laughter, and, above all, love for her family.

Ada accepted Christ at an early age, beginning a lifelong journey of faith that remained central to who she was. As a child, she attended Macedonia Baptist Church in Troy, Alabama. After moving to Clewiston, Florida, she joined Greater Friendship Baptist Church, where she faithfully served until relocating to Washington, D.C. There, she continued her walk with Christ as a member of Mount Lebanon Baptist Church.

Ada attended Henry County Public Schools and graduated from Harlem Academy High School. With a natural desire to care for others, she attended Tuskegee Institute, where she studied nursing and earned her nursing certification. Nursing was more than a profession for Ada—it reflected the caring and compassionate woman she was.

Early in her career, Ada worked at Freeman’s Hospital and later served as a private nurse at several nursing facilities. She eventually found her professional home at Saint Elizabeths Hospital, where she served for 25 years before retiring. Throughout those years, Ada formed lasting friendships with her colleagues and earned the respect of those around her. Her coworkers remembered her kindness, and her patients benefited from the exceptional care and compassion she gave so naturally.

But Ada was so much more than her career.

Ada truly knew how to enjoy life. She loved music, especially Gladys Knight and The O’Jays. When one of her favorite songs came on the radio, it was not unusual for her to start doing her “little dance,” with her grandchildren joining right along. Those moments—filled with music, dancing, laughter, and love—became the kind of memories her family will carry forever.

She was also a true sports fan who loved her Washington teams, especially the Washington Redskins and Washington Wizards. She knew the players, knew the statistics, and could talk sports with the best of them.

And Ada certainly knew how to dress up and have a good time. During the 1960s, some of her closest friends were members of the Black Social Club, which promoted fundraising while also bringing people together in fellowship and celebration. Ada enjoyed dressing in long, sparkling gowns, dancing the night away, and making memories with friends.

As much as Ada enjoyed music, sports, dancing, and friendship, nothing compared to her love for family.

Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays, cookouts, and family gatherings brought her tremendous joy. To Ada, family was everything.

Ada was blessed with three beloved sons through her marriage to the late Freddie L. Hare Sr.: Freddie Lee Hare Jr., Sidney James Hare, and Tyrone Lamont Hare. Her sons were the light of her life and the center of her world. She often expressed that one of her greatest purposes in life was to love them unconditionally and help them grow into the best versions of themselves.

After losing her husband at a young age, Ada faced the tremendous responsibility of raising her boys without him. Her family rallied around her with love and support, and there was never any question that Ada would raise her sons with strength, determination, and plenty of love. She knew how she wanted her children raised, and she made sure they were surrounded by family and guided in the right direction.

As the years passed, her family grew. Daughters-in-law became family, grandchildren arrived, and eventually Ada received another beautiful blessing: becoming a great-grandmother. With each generation, she had more love to give, and Ada gave it freely.

She touched the lives of those around her with her warm smile, infectious laugh, generous spirit, and unmistakable presence. Whether she was caring for a patient, laughing with friends, dancing with her grandchildren, cheering for her favorite team, preparing for a family gathering, or simply spending time with the people she loved, Ada made moments feel special.

Her life was full. It was full of service, faith, friendship, music, laughter, family, and irreplaceable memories.

Ada is preceded in death by her loving husband, Freddie L. Hare Sr and her sister Pauline Peterson and brother-in-law Robert Peterson.

Ada leaves to cherish her memory her beloved sons, Freddie Lee Hare Jr. (Angela), Sidney James Hare (Linda), and Tyrone Lamont Hare; her sister-in-law Betty Hare (deceased brother-in-law Horace Hare); and the Hare grandchildren, Sydney, Tynishia, Tamika, Kaitlin, and Juel. The Robinson grandchildren: David J and Niko; her great-grandchildren, Omari Williams and Tyson Brown; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, relatives, and dear friends whose lives were made brighter simply because Ada was a part of them.

Although her family will deeply miss her physical presence, the love Ada poured into them did not leave with her. It remains in the family she built, the generations she helped shape, the stories that will continue to be told, and the laughter that will return whenever someone remembers one of those special moments with her.

Her children were her heart. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her joy. Her family will forever be her legacy. Ada Jane Hare lived a life rooted in faith, strengthened by perseverance, and filled with love. She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever carried in the hearts of all who had the blessing of knowing and loving her.