Several IBSA staff members tell stories about receiving a phone call from Romelia Adams. The calls were always upbeat, congratulatory, and encouraging. Sometimes she would say, “You don’t have to tell Nate I called.” It was always a pleasure to hear from Nate’s mom.
She lauded the work of accomplished women, and she appreciated writers, among others. Her husband, Tom, wrote a column for the Illinois Baptist for 34 years, and she was always helpful and supportive in his endeavors. As a pastor’s wife, and in Tom’s 12 years as Director of Missions of Fox Valley Baptist Association, she served well and is remembered lovingly. With Romelia at his side, Tom pastored churches in Kentucky and Illinois including First Baptist Church of Johnston City and First Baptist Church of Des Plaines.
Romelia Adams died December 21 at age 94.
“She shared that she had wanted to be a foreign missionary when she was a teenager,” said Nita Springer of Calvary Baptist Church in Elgin where the Adamses were members. “Romelia never served on the foreign mission field, but she felt like the Lord allowed her to serve on the field where he placed her, in Elgin.”
She ministered to Cambodians and Laotians in the early 80’s and God placed her in a neighborhood with people of different nationalities. “She had a neighbor who didn’t speak English well. She tried to witness to him and gave him a Bible in his native language,” Springer said of one characteristic outreach.
Romelia and Tom were active in ministry, even in retirement. And Romelia continued service at Calvary Church for nearly two decades after Tom’s death in 2006. “She was a prayer warrior and her prayer life increased as her physical abilities decreased.”
Her passion for books was well known. A graduate of Bethel Women’s Junior College and Murray State University, both in her native Kentucky, Romelia served 20 years as learning center library director for several junior high schools in District 59. She served as church librarian, always ensuring the books offered were biblically sound. And she served at Elgin’s Judson University through the Friends of Judson.
Romelia and Tom were married 55 years. They had three sons, Nevin, Nate, and Carey, and a daughter, Alita. Romelia is survived by their families, including eleven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A funeral service is planned for Saturday, December 28 at Calvary Baptist Church. IBSA Executive Director Nate Adams and his son Noah will conduct the service.