Anne Cornwall Johnson-Adams

Anne Cornwall Johnson-Adams of Jacksonville, Florida died peacefully at the age of 82 on March 9, 2016 at the Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring. She was surrounded by her beloved family who were everything to her. Anne, a true Florida native who loved the sunshine and the beach, was born on July 6, 1933 to Bryan H. Cornwall, Sr. and Eva Baker Cornwall of Jacksonville, Florida.

Anne graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1951 where she excelled in academics and music, playing the piano, bassoon, violin and saxophone. She was an accomplished pianist and organist who attended Stetson University and graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Masters of Education in 1955. She is a member of the University of Florida Alumni Association.

Anne was a gifted teacher whose students adored her. She dedicated her life and career to fostering a love of music and learning, in her daughters, grandchildren, students, fellow educators and the Jacksonville community. She taught Chorus and English at Lakeshore Junior High for 33 years. Anne took many junior high choruses to the Duval County and Florida State Choral Contests earning high marks year after year. Anne was excellent at recruiting a diverse group of students to chorus even convincing athletes and non-musicians to try singing. She was instrumental in training students at the junior high level who would then continue with chorus in her first husband Willis David Johnson's choral program at Robert E. Lee High School. Quite a few students went on to notable careers in music. After retirement from the public schools Anne became an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Florida in the College of Education teaching Elementary Music Methods for another decade. Anne was an active member of the Friday Musicale holding the office of President in 2007-2008. Anne was also a dedicated church musician as the organist at St. John's Presbyterian Church in partnership with her husband Willis Johnson who was the choir director for over twenty-five years. Willis and Anne raised their three daughters, Elizabeth, Carole and Jennifer at St. John's.

Anne had impeccable taste in all things from decorating her home to preparing delicious meals and desserts to putting her best foot forward in all situations. She worked hard to instill these values in her daughters and grandchildren. In her later years, Anne became passionate about beach glass and would walk Ponte Vedra Beach from Sawgrass to Mickler's Landing with her husband Bill.

Anne was a deeply devoted wife, mother and grandmother who was preceded in death by her first husband, Willis David Johnson (deceased 1989) whom she met in the choir at Riverside Presbyterian Church and married in 1960. She is survived by her second husband, William Jackson Adams, Sr whom she also met and married at Riverside Presbyterian Church in 2000. Anne is survived by three daughters, Elizabeth Johnson Skinner, son-in-law, Charles E. Skinner and two granddaughters, Caroline and Katherine; Carole Johnson Adams, son-in-law Michael D. Adams and grandson, Thomas; and Jennifer Johnson Stenson, son-in-law Andrew P. Stenson and grandsons, Jacob, Adam and Luke. Anne is also survived by the family of her second husband Bill Adams; his children, Scott, Susan, Pamela, Jack and their spouses; and grandchildren, Joel and Cory Martin, Tyler Losco, Holly and Jacob Adams.

In lieu of flowers, please contribute to two nonprofits of great significance to Anne: the National Parkinson's Foundation, www.parkinson.org and Friday Musicale, www.fridaymusicale.com

Arrangements are under the care of Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL. 32207. The family will receive visitors at Oaklawn Chapel from 4-6pm on Sunday, March 13th. A memorial service celebrating the life of Anne Cornwall Johnson-Adams will be held at Riverside Presbyterian Church at 11:00 am on Monday, March 14th. Please Sign the guestbook at www.hardagegiddensoaklawnchapel.com

HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family.