Nina F. Adams

Nina Fern Adams (89), of Coolidge, Arizona, who considered herself to be a pilgrim on the earth, at long last, found the Heavenly Country she had sought, for her entire life, on June 29, 2022, from the city of Casa Grande, Arizona. Nina was born in October of 1932 in the family home, in Mayes County, Oklahoma, to John Lawrence and Bessie Obelia (Nordin) Adams. There was some controversy over the actual day of her birth, as the family had recorded and celebrated her birthday on the 5th, but when she applied for her Social Security Card years later, her birth certificate stated that she was born on the 13th, and just like that, the federal government, with no more than a clerical error, changed her birthday. She moved with her family from Arkansas to Arizona in 1952. As migrant workers, they had been drawn to Coolidge for the cotton. For years, it was in the cotton fields surrounding Coolidge, where Nina and the entire family could be found chopping or picking cotton, men, women and … children. Initially residing in several of the cotton camps along Arizona Boulevard in Coolidge, including Starn’s, Sweeper’s, Holt’s, and Cal’s Camps, it was in Coolidge, where Nina and her family, would make their home for the remainder of their days, having there found work in all aspects of the cotton industry and Coolidge enterprises. Nina lived her entire life, very passionate in her love for Jesus, and family. She demonstrated that love in a tireless service to others. Having no children of her own, she became a second mother to most of her nieces and nephews, by caring for them while their parents labored to earn a living. She excelled as a seamstress, housekeeper and cook, and was famous for her holiday desserts. She entertained the children in her care, with captivating stories she made up of the adventures of a people she called Teeny-Weenies. She sang songs with the children, often as she played the piano. Her wonderful drawings and paintings and paper-dolls came alive with her accompanying stories which filled their little hearts with joy. She continued in a family tradition of never allowing any visitor to leave her home without offering them some small treat to eat and a few coins for the children, and often proclaiming her favorite farewell, “Victory in Jesus!” She cared for her parents and older sister, in their glory years, and prayed without ceasing for all of her extended family, friends and neighbors, for all of her life.

Nina is survived by two sisters, Shirley Martin of Coolidge, and Lois Parker of Casa Grande; seven nieces and nephews, 22 grandnieces and nephews; 33 great-grandnieces and nephews; and one great-great-grandniece.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and two siblings, John Gordon Adams and Doris Emmalee Adams.