Barbara T. Adams

Barbara Thomasine Adams was born on June 24th, 1937 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the second of four children Joan Wilson (deceased), Sandra McLaurin, and Dewitt Newton Jr. (deceased) of the late Betty (Mattocks) Newton and Dewitt Newton.

Barbara was educated in the Philadelphia School System. She graduated from Dobbins High School in 1956.  She married in 1956 and had 3 children, Gerald Miller, Janet Foster and Gregory Miller (deceased).

Barbara was a stay at home mom for 12 years.  She began her 24-year professional career with the City of Philadelphia in August, 1968 as a Clerk Stenographer for the Housing and Urban Development Office.  After 10 years with HUD. She transferred to the Police Commissioner’s Office and worked as an Administrative Assistant.  She eventually transferred to the Managing Director’s Office of Philadelphia and worked as an Administrative Assistant until she retired in September, 1992.

Barbara married the love of her life Harold Adams (deceased), on April 9, 2003.  They enjoyed life to the fullest.  They were both people persons and made friends wherever they went.  They loved to travel, enjoyed going to plays, Jazz and R&B concerts.  Their favorite artist was Frankie Beverly and Maze.  All you had to say was a Frankie Beverly concert and they were there.  They both loved to dance and attended all kinds of social events.

Barbara loved to talk. She could stay on the phone for hours.  If you asked her what she could talk about that long, she would laugh and say everything.  She loved her family. Her children and grandchildren were her world.  She gave them unconditional love, time, patience and wisdom.  She taught them how to be loving, giving and strong. She especially taught them to love themselves.  She always said be yourself not what others want you to be and always support each other.

Barbara wanted to do something special for women of color over the age of 50.  She was a pioneer who created one of the first black Red Hat groups in Plymouth Meeting (Montgomery County) named the Nubian Jewels.  She acted as queen mother of the group for over 10 years and remained an active member until her passing.  The purpose of her group was to enjoy life and each other.  The Nubian Jewels enjoyed plays, musical concerts, movies, restaurants and social events together.  She ensured that the group had fun and stayed active every month.  Even though the group started with the ladies over 50, our group had members of all ages.  We had mothers, daughters and granddaughters.  It became a wonderful way for different generations to bind together.  Her fun-loving spirit, generosity, beautiful smile, sassy look and style will be remembered by all the Nubian Jewel members.

Barbara wanted to be remembered as she lived, a fun loving, caring individual who loved her family, friends and only wanted the best for all around her.

Left to cherish her loving memory are her son Gerald Miller, daughter Janet Foster, son-in-law Carl Foster, sister Sandra McLaurin, grandchildren Tiffany Kincaid and Daniel Foster, great grandchildren Djabril Dunston and Ayanah Givens and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Submitted With Love,

The Family

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Barbara T. Adams, please visit our floral store.