Elise Adams

In a farmhouse between Whitsett and Burlington, NC, which descendants still call “Down Home,” Elise Muse entered the world on January 20, 1920, as the first born to Thula and John Muse. Born in a time when women were not considered equal to men, Elise fashioned a life that she wanted on her own terms. She ended her long earthly journey on March 6, 2022, at 102 years of age. Her family is comforted that Elise has begun her next adventure.  A child during the 1930’s Great Depression, Elise and her younger sister Marjorie, were fortunate to only sacrifice luxuries (women’s hose, sugar, coffee, etc.). The Muse family was not hungry as John owned a small grocery store in Winston-Salem, NC. Thula was a master seamstress, reconstructing men’s suits into women’s suits for $2.00 each and sewed clothes for all the Muse family. Elise was also a master seamstress and sewed clothing for her family well into the 1970’s.  Elise grew up in Winston-Salem, NC on Granville Drive and attended Granville Grade School. Grades were “half grades” and Elise skipped more than one due to her intellect. High School was 11 grades and Elise graduated from RJ Reynolds High in 1936. She was employed in the Purchasing Department for RJ Reynolds Tobacco and worked in the Reynolds Building in downtown Winston-Salem as a secretary from 1936 until 1947. In 1943 she met Bill Adams from Wichita Falls, TX at a dance for WWII enlisted military personnel in Winston-Salem. Bill returned from his last WWII post in Italy to marry Elise on April 6, 1946.  Together, Elise and Bill were blessed with a family of four children and built their first home on Granville Drive, living there from 1955 to 1993. Elise assisted Bill with his professional photography business, worked as church secretary for Messiah Moravian Church and as Coordinator of Christian Education for Christ Moravian Church and owned a business of crafted lampshades. She volunteered and served in many capacities at Christ Moravian, including the Board of Elders, Women’s Fellowship President, Women’s Circle Leader and on the Moravian Provincial Women’s Board. Elise also served for many years on PTAs and volunteered with Contact Crisis Hotline and Salemtowne Retirement Community. Elise was a wonderful chef, mastering whatever was the nouveau food at the time, canning vegetables, arranging freshly picked flowers from her garden and participating in many kinds of crafts. She loved serving others with home-cooked food, cards, visits and driving friends/family to appointments.  Her favorite part of life was post Bill’s retirement in 1975 when they began traveling with a travel camper all over the United States. In Elise’s mid-70’s, they settled into a summer mountain community with a park model on the river in Down-By-The-River Campground in Pineola, NC. They named the place “Adams Eden.” Elise continued to spend summers there among a close community of friends and even teaching line-dancing, until she turned 90 years of age. Still going strong, Elise moved into Homestead Hills Retirement Center for 6 years where she remained active in the community. At 96, Elise moved to Trinity Elms Assisted Living. It was during this time that dementia began to steal Elise’s memories and the light within her, although she remained sweet and loving until she closed her eyes for the last time.  Elise was preceded in death by her husband Bill in 2007, and son Bill in 2014. Surviving are her remaining three children, Bob Adams (Susan), Linda Hastings (Mike), Julie Elise Brinegar (Chip); daughter-in-law, Annie Adams; seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, seven step-great-grandchildren; her sister, Marjorie Humbert; nephews, nieces and two special goddaughters, all of whom she adored.  A graveside celebration of Elise’s life will be held at God’s Acre in Old Salem on Sunday, March 13, 2022, at 2:00 pm.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Christ Moravian Church, 919 W. Academy St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, Trinity Elms Assisted Living/Memory Care, 3750 Harper Rd, Clemmons, NC 27012, Trellis Supportive Care, 377 Hospital St., #103, Mocksville, NC 27028, or a charity of the donor’s choice.  Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel is serving the family of Mrs. Adams.  Thanks to all who touched Elise’s life.