Lottie Cornelia (Smith) Adams passed away at the age of 85 on January 10, 2021, while trying to rehabilitate at Iroquois Nursing Home from complications associated with COVID.

She lived on her own until November 16, 2020 when she was diagnosed with COVID. She was deemed to be COVID free on November 23, 2020, but could not beat the residual complications caused by the virus.

Lottie was born on December 7, 1935, in Cascade, Virginia, Pittsylvania County, to William and Lottie (Hairston) Smith. She married Finest Adams on February 8, 1956, and moved to Syracuse that same year.

Lottie was a faithful member of Unity Church and Spiritual Center on West Seneca Turnpike in Syracuse, where she met and made many good friends. Here she met her good friend, Mina Bradley, who became her senior companion and caretaker for many years. She was blessed to have the wonderful women of Sunnycrest Apartments help her on a daily basis, so she could maintain her independence for 22 years.
She also had two “adopted daughter” companions who played a huge role in her independence. Clareatha Jones (Peaches) who took her for walks and did anything else to make her comfortable, and Amie Noel-Barnes (she loved those cakes and pies).

She enjoyed playing gin rummy (which she was very good at, and would let you win….sometimes). Lottie was feisty and determined not to let anything slow her down, and continued to sew and paint until she was unable to. Lottie loved sewing and art, and teaching it to others, especially at the Southwest Community Center, Huntington Family Center, until she started her battle with Parkinson’s.

Lottie is preceded in death by her only daughter, Cornelia Jane Adams, who passed away, unexpectedly at the age of 53, on February 25, 2016; her brothers, Peter, David and Jube Smith; sisters, Nannie Bell Harris and Celian Price; and her former husband, Finest Adams.

Lottie leaves to celebrate her life and memories, her sister, 94 year-old Beulah Galloway of Eden, North Carolina; her sons, Gregory (Ella), Steven (Veronica), Sherman and Phillip all of Syracuse; four granddaughters, April, Tiffany, Courtney and Chelsey; one grandson, RaShaun; and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

The family has entrusted Lottie’s final arrangements to New Comer Cremations & Funerals. Because of the COVID pandemic, services will be private. Services will be live streamed on Tuesday, January 19th at 5PM. To view the Live Stream Click Here.

Flowers can be sent to the funeral home by Tuesday, January 19th. If you would like to make a donation in her name, please go to Parkinson.org and select "Make a Gift."



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