Crosby Lyman Adams

Crosby Lyman Adams, 90, of Columbia, SC died peacefully on Thursday February 26, 2026. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Elizabeth (Betsy) Childs Adams. He was born on March 2, 1935, in Waterville Maine to Lyman Crosby Adams and Jean Cunningham Adams and grew up in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Crosby earned a bachelor’s degree from Worchester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts and a master’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley. He had a long career as a civil engineer in transportation planning at Wilbur Smith and Associates. His work took him all over the world, including assignments in Hong Kong, Kuwait, Singapore, Barbados, Guam, and Nicaragua.

After his retirement he served as a Personal Touch volunteer at Prisma Health Baptist, where he worked with newborn babies. He was also active in the Golden K Kiwanis Club.

Throughout his life he loved music and sang with the Palmetto Mastersingers, the Columbia Choral Society and the choirs of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, St. Martin’s in the Fields, and St. Michael and All Angels.

He is survived by his wife Betsy, his sons Michael Crosby Adams, Charles Frederic Adams, and Richard Childs Adams and his wife Virginia Green Adams, and his daughter Carlisle Childs Adams Hernandez, and her husband Steven Michael Hernandez as well his grandchildren Jack Adams, Anna Adams, Noah Adams, Maddie Hernandez, and Gus Hernandez. Crosby is also survived by his brother David McAllister Adams and his wife Ellen. He was predeceased by his brother Steven Winchester Adams and his wife Jackie, as well as his brother-in-law David Augustus Childs Junior.

The family wishes to extend special gratitude to Crosby’s “buddy” Liz Staley and the caring staff at the Sanders Guignard Rehabilitation Center at Still Hopes.

Funeral services will be held at St. Martin’s in the Fields Episcopal Church on Friday, March 6th at 1:30pm, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Palmetto Mastersingers, the National Stuttering Association, or a charity of your choice.