Obituary of Diane Ralls Adams

Diane Ralls Adams was born November 1, 1934 to Arthur William Ralls, Jr. and Clara Walker Ralls, in Gadsden, Alabama. She passed away peacefully on June 27, 2023 in Thornton, Colorado following recent health setbacks at the age of 88. She was the cornerstone of our family but we are forever grateful that her suffering was short, and her heavenly reunion with our sweet gentle soul of a Father, and all those loved ones that have gone before her, softens the grief and soothes the soul.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents Dr. and Mrs. Arthur William Ralls, Sr., who established Forrest General Hospital of Gadsden; as well as the late Honorable and Mrs. John Randall Walker of Madison, Florida; her parents, sister, Clara Ralls Williams and husband, Rodney J. Adams. She is survived by daughters Alison Johnson (Pat) (Louisville, KY), Nancy Adams Stovall (Kevin)(Thornton, CO), Stacey Adams (Jeanine Edgington)(Los Angeles, CA) and grandchildren Taylor Purdie (Andrew), Mackenzie Johnson, Conner Johnson, (Louisville, KY) Hanna Stovall, Grayson Stovall (Thornton, CO) and great grandchildren Hadley and Harper Purdie (Louisville, KY). Nieces and Nephews Cameron Williams, Jeffrey Williams, Valerie Williams Pennington, Jonathan Williams and Daniel Williams (Sally) (Birmingham, AL) and their children.

She graduated in 1951 from Gadsden High School in Gadsden, Alabama, attended the University of Alabama for one year and pledged Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. She worked as copy editor for a radio station before joining her sister, Clara as a flight attendant for Eastern Airlines. She enjoyed all the travel benefits until she married the love of her life, Rodney J. Adams in April 1960 in Gadsden, Alabama, while being stationed in Atlanta, Georgia. They would go on to be married for 60 years before Rod’s passing. They moved to Louisville, Kentucky and welcomed their first child, Alison a year later, followed by Nancy in 1963 and Stacey in 1970. She was a homemaker and relished her role, believing that your first ministry begins with your children. They were active members of Christ Church United Methodist for 20+ years. Diane taught in children's ministry and they enjoyed life long friendships still remaining to this day. In 1982 they moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee and joined Hixson United Methodist Church. She and Rod were pillars of the community and members of the Sammy Goodwin Sunday School class. Their life revolved around family, church and community. They welcomed five beautiful grandchildren and two great grandchildren in the years that followed, each one a source of joy and pride. Diane found much comfort in prayer, asking for guidance, courage, strength and peace for her family. Daily she prayed for each of her children and grandchildren, asking for good health, dear friends, a lifelong love and partnership, the continued closeness of family and for their faith to be their foundation. They became surrogate grandparents to many, prayer warriors for the whole congregation and community and were truly blessed with precious friends and neighbors. In 2016 they moved to Colorado to be closer to family. Rod and Diane joined Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, and volunteered for the Nurture Team. Both of them could often be found sweeping the church sidewalk or cleaning out the flowerbeds or whatever was needed. She was definitely at home in a garden and loved every kind of flower. In 2020 they were both honored to be recognized as “Quiet Disciples” by the church congregation. She was heartbroken with Rod’s passing in January 2021. Whether you met Diane once, were a lifelong friend or someone in between, you always felt her goodness. She was adored by one and all. She delighted in the physical touch of a heartfelt hug, the warmth of greeting any and everyone with “Hey, Precious,” or “Hey, Darlin,” and had a unique gift of making everyone feel loved and truly treasured. In her lifetime, a consummate hostess, she prepared and lovingly shared thousands of meals for others in times of celebration, healing or grief. She baked enough banana bread, jello salad and her decadent chocolate sauce to feed the masses across Kentucky, Tennessee and Colorado. Many would describe her as an angel on earth. She wore her faith and her southern heritage as a badge of honor, believing she was truly called to be the hands and feet of Jesus; to love on her family and friends and even complete strangers in all facets of her life. She felt her life’s purpose was to love God through worship, love others in fellowship, and serve daily. Although known for her hospitality, her love languages were many in sharing ‘words of affirmation’, ‘gift giving’ and ‘acts of service’. She will be remembered for her faith first, her love of pineapples; a symbol of hospitality, and angels; truly believing that they walk among us, some disguised as ordinary people. Her legacy lives on in all of us, “the gift of JOY”, personified by Jesus first, others second and yourself last. She selflessly embodied that principle throughout her life and the laughter in her last years was plentiful. Welcome home little Mama, our earthly loss is heaven’s gain… because I knew you, “I have been changed for good.”

Memorials may be given to Hixson United Methodist Church,( Hixson TN.) or Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, (Thornton, CO.) or the National Alzheimer’s Association. A Celebration of Life will be held July 18, 2023 at Bonaventure Senior Living, 12281 Washington Parkway, Thornton, Colorado at 2pm, all are welcome