Donelson Adams

Donelson Ross Adams died on October 15, 2026. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama to Arthur Andrew Adams, Jr. and Dorothy Ross Adams on June 30, 1937. Mr. Adams was a graduate of Birmingham University School, and Auburn University where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.

He enjoyed membership in the Boy Scouts of America and attended a Jamboree in the Western United States, served in the Air Force Reserves and on the Birmingham Selective Service Board, and was a member of The Crawford Owen Sunday School Class at Canterbury Methodist Church, The Club, the Country Club of Birmingham, St. Andrew’s Society of the Middle South, Shades Valley Rotary Club.

He was in the insurance and real estate business as owner of A. A. Adams & Co., Inc for many years, then was affiliated with Truitt & Company until his retirement. A lifetime fitness enthusiast, he frequently competed in triathlons and running 5K races for over three decades. He completed his last triathlon at the age of seventy-six.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Arthur Andrew Adams III of Lexington, Virginia; and nephew William Walton Adams of Roanoke, Virginia.

Survivors include: wife: Ann Evins Adams, children: Donelson Ross Adams, Jr. (Lucy Estes) and Elizabeth Adams Hill (Jeffrey Craig Hill) grandchildren Anna (Ann Donelson Hill), Andrew Evins Adams, John Clifton Hill; nephew John Lawrence Adams of Winchester, Virginia, brother-in-law John Cowan Evins, Jr., sister-in-law Kathy Evins Kyzer, niece Emily Kyzer Browne (Michael) of Memphis, Tennessee and by his canine buddy, Margot.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mountain Brook Baptist Church, 3631 Montevallo Road, Mountain Brook, Alabama, 35213, or to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society (gbhs.org), 300 Snow Drive, Homewood, Alabama, 35209.

A memorial service will be held at Mountain Brook Baptist Church on Thursday, October 22 at 4:00 pm, with visitation after the service at the Country Club of Birmingham.

Services are under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel (205-879-3401) in Homewood.