Ann Elizabeth McAdams

It is with a special sense of appreciation that we brothers John, George and Randy McAdams, celebrate the life of our beloved sister Ann McAdams. We were all born in Raleigh, all members of Hayes Barton Baptist Church, and all are graduates of Broughton High School. After graduating from Duke with a degree in French, Ann married and moved to Washington DC, and became a columnist for the National Observer newspaper. She liked to tell us that another budding columnist, Nina Totenberg, was assigned the desk right next to hers.

But three years in, Ann suffered a permanent affliction with schizophrenia, which ended her brief marriage and her newspaper career. She returned to Raleigh, was eventually able to get appropriate medical treatment, and lived a simple but gracious life. Our dad had passed away about the time Ann became sick, and for 29 years Ann was "the world's best companion" for our mom Martha ("Marcie" to her grands) until she passed away in 2004. Thereafter Ann moved into BeckAnna Apartments (now Sterling Glenwood), where she developed several really deep friendships with friends who are grieving her passing.

Ann is survived by her three brothers and their descendants:

Brother John McAdams, and his wife Janice, kids Wes (Wife Elli, kids Tillie and May), Wade (husband Josh), and Leigh, Brother Randy McAdams, and his wife Bonnie, kids Stephen (wife Kaycee, kids Eloise, Poppy and Charlotte), Allison (husband Pete Weber, kids Charlie, Wiggs and Marcie), David (wife Carly), and Chris. Brother George. all of whom Ann adored and who adored her.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the sanctuary at Hayes Barton Baptist Church, 1800 Glenwood Avenue (at five points), Raleigh, NC 27608, on Tuesday, June 9, at 11:00 am, followed by a visitation in the church parlor.

Gifts in Ann's honor may be sent to Hayes Barton Baptist Church.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh is serving the McAdams family.