Philip White Adams
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Philip White Adams

  • November 10, 1930 - January 18, 2012
  • Columbia, South Carolina
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Memories & Candles

“See ya, Uncle Phil. ”
1 of 13 | Posted by: Rodney T. Adams - Colerain, NC

“Dear Mae and family, I'm so sorry of the death of loss. Phil was always a warm and friendly cousin. Growing up, my family(Aunt Sophia White and Will...Read More » ”
2 of 13 | Posted by: Mary Farless Baker - Ahoskie, NC

“So sorry to hear of Phil's passing. What wonderful memories we have of the Hammond bsketball days, and the friendships we made. Our thoughts and...Read More » ”
3 of 13 | Posted by: Ray and Judy Adams - Hopkins, SC

“I've known Phil very pleasantly since farm credit days (Federal Land Bank) and have always enjoyed his friendship and wise counsel. ”
4 of 13 | Posted by: Dick Holstein - Batesburg, SC

“Our condolences and appreciation go out to family and friends during this time of celebration of Phil's life. His honesty, attention to details and...Read More » ”
5 of 13 | Posted by: John R. Helms - Columbia, SC

“Dear Mae-Mae, Donna, Kelly, and Family, We are so sorry for your loss. G-daddy was a very special man who was loved by anyone who came into contact...Read More » ”
6 of 13 | Posted by: Tonya, Leigh, Shelby, and Natalie Milton - GA

“To the Adams Family, We are so sorry for your lose and we know how much you will miss Phil Dad and G-dad. You are in in our prayers. We love you...Read More » ”
7 of 13 | Posted by: The Brewer Family Craig Linda Mark and Aaron - NC

“I extend my sincere sympathy to all the family. I am a member of the Appraisal Institute, as well, and knew Phil on a professional level. He was...Read More » ”
8 of 13 | Posted by: Katherine McNeill - Aiken, SC

“Mae, Donna, David, Lee, and Jason-- We are so sorry about your loss. What a nice,nice man and what a wonderful picture! We enjoyed our days...Read More » ”
9 of 13 | Posted by: GRACE CHAPMAN - columbia, SC

“I send my condolences to Mae, their children, and their grandchildren. My memories of Phil go as far bach as my memory of anyone in my childhood. I...Read More » ”
10 of 13 | Posted by: Gene Daniels - Charlotte, NC

“Jason - sorry for you and your family's loss. Sounds like you had a great Dad. Circumstances will not allow me to be there, but please know you and...Read More » ”
11 of 13 | Posted by: Jim Holstein - Orangeburg, SC

“A true gentleman who we will miss. Stuart,Spence, and family. ”
12 of 13 | Posted by: Spence Jenkins - Columbia, SC

“The staff of Dunbar Funeral Home extends our deepest sympathies to the family of Philip Adams. ”
13 of 13 | Posted by: Greg Dunbar - Columbia, SC


Philip "Phil" White Adams
COLUMBIA - Graveside service for Philip White Adams, 81, will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 21, 2012, at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.
Mr. Adams, husband of Mae Williford Adams, passed away Wednesday, January 18, 2012 following treatments for cancer at South Carolina Oncology. He was known to family and friends as "Phil" and to nine grandchildren as "G-Daddy". Phil was born November 10, 1930, to the late Fannie H. White and Solomon Benjamin (Sol) Adams in Merry Hill, Bertie County, NC. He played basketball and baseball at Colerain High School, Bertie County, NC. Mr. Adams earned his B.S. Degree in Forest Management from North Carolina State University. He received an athletic letter from the Rifle Team, played soccer one year as a club, earned two letters from Varsity Soccer, serving as team Captain his senior year.
Upon graduation, he entered the U.S. Army Infantry as an ROTC 2nd Lieutenant in June 1953, serving during the later stages of the Korean War at the Infantry Training Center, Fort Benning, GA. He was honorably discharged as a 1st Lieutenant in March, 1955.
After military service, Mr. Adams was employed as a Land Bank Appraiser by the Federal Land Bank of Columbia, working in eastern North Carolina. In 1956, Phil married Mae Williford of Windsor, Bertie County, N.C. In 1961, the Adams family, with their first child, relocated from Windsor to Columbia where Mr. Adams served with the Federal Land Bank of Columbia, operating in four southeastern states, as Appraisal Supervisor, Assistant Vice President, and with the Farm Credit Administration as Assistant Chief Reviewing Appraiser, in the Columbia office.
In 1966, Mr. Adams accepted a position as County Tax Assessor of Richland County (includes the City of Columbia). While Assessor, he authored an article entitled "Attaining and Maintaining Equalized Assessed Values", 1967, which was presented at a national meeting of the International Association of Assessing Officials (IAAO) in Washington, D.C. Mr. Adams served a term as President of the South Carolina Chapter of IAAO.
In 1973, Mr. Adams opened an appraisal office, Adams Appraisal Associates, Inc., in Columbia, through 2006. He maintained designations of MAI from the Appraisal Institute, Registered Forester (RF) from the Society of American Foresters and Certified General Real Estate Appraiser in South and North Carolina. In 2006, Mr. Adams sold his appraisal business to Milliken Forestry Company, Inc. (MFC) and was employed by them for three additional years. In 2009, he returned to self-employment as an independent fee appraiser of real estate until his retirement last year.
Mr. Adams was a member of Kilbourne Park Baptist Church where he served as Sunday School teacher and Assistant Boy Scout Leader. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, canoeing and camping with his wife and four children. He especially enjoyed a lifetime of bird watching and wildflower identification. He published a pamphlet about a pair of mourning doves who raised six broods in one season in a nest in a fern on the second story patio of their Columbia home.
Surviving are his beloved wife of 55 years, daughter, Donna Adams Hall and child, Kelly, Suwanee, GA.; sons, David (Stacy) Adams and children, Hilliary, Wesley and Reagan of Charlotte, Lee (Renee) Adams and children, Jack and Maggie, Jason (Alice) Adams and children, Sarah, Rebekah, and Anna Katherine, of Columbia; sisters, Margaret A. (Bill) Parker, of Newport News, VA., Miriam A. (Walter) Wise; brothers, Frank (Elaine) Adams, of Windsor, NC, Jack (Zelna) Adams, Truett (June) Adams, both of Colerain, NC; and sister-in-law, Jesse Mae Adams. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by sister, Josephine Adams Enright (Graham) Pierce of Boise, Idaho; brothers, John Milton (Elizabeth) Adams, of Windsor, Ben (Myrtle) Adams, Spencer (Dorothy) Adams, and Max Adams, all of Merry Hill, N.C.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Kilbourne Park Baptist Church, 4205 Kilbourne Road, Columbia, SC 29206, Shandon Baptist Church, 5250 Forest Drive, Columbia SC 29206, or a charity of one's choice.
Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfunerals.com.