Etoria Adams

Toole

A golden heart stopped beating, working hands were stilled, earthly duties were completed, and a sleeping beauty is laid to rest on March 17, 2018.

Etoria Adams Toole was the youngest of ten children born to the late Patsy Lang Adams and Joe Adams. She was born on January 29, 1935 in McIntosh, Alabama. Death sealed her lips on March 11, 2018.

She was a member of Lang's Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church where she served on the Trustee Board and was a Life Member of the Missionary Society. She served as a secretary of the church under the leadership of Rev. L.L. Griffin, Rev. Eddie Hones, and Rev. James L. Allen.

Etoria was an educator.  After completing high school, she received a B.S. Degree from Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama, and a Master's Degree from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama. She studied at Miles College in Birmingham.

Her teaching career began in 1957 at Koenton High School in Koenton, Alabama, where Mr. Charles D. Stallworth was principal. She taught in Koeton five years until the school was moved to Chatom and named North Central High School. She taught at North Central High School five years still under the leadership of Ms. Stallworth.

When the schools in Washington County were integrated, she was the first Black to be sent to the "all White" Leroy High School. That was a challenge to her.  At Leroy High School, she taught under three principals- Mr. Joseph Palmer, Mr. Jerry Reed, and Mr. Cleophus Stevens. She taught at Leroy High School 20 years until she retired in Oct. 1986.

She taught under the leadership of four superintendents-; Mr. Theodore B. Pearson, Mr. John S. Woods, Dr. Fred Scoggins, and Dr. Vivian L. Dearmon.

She was an Eastern star, member of the American Association of Retired Persons, retired member of the Alabama Education Association, retired member of the National Education Association, member of the N.A.A.C.P., and a 2013 inductee of the Washington County, Alabama Hall of Fame

Her hobby was working with her flower gardens. She planted flowers all along Rev. Michael Toole Road.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Ivory Toole, Jr., son, Rev. Michael Dewayne Toole, and grandson, Myron Williams; six brothers, Joseph, Bush, Jessie, Leo, Caleisby, and Sandy, and Ezell Adams; two sisters Eddie V. Reed and Charlotte Adams.

She leaves to cherish her memory one loving and devoted daughter, Shavon Reed and one adopted daughter, Mykala Williams of McIntosh, Alabama;  five grandchildren, Kevin Toole, Ray Williams, Nekoshia Williams, and Jasmine Williams of McIntosh and Xiomara (Rev. Thaddeus) Douglas of Jackson; five great grandchildren, Megan Lang, Jassiah Williams, and Ivory Thomas of McIntosh and Thaddeus and JohnMichael Douglas of Jackson; godson, Demetris (Alexis) Reed; one sister, Myrtle Lee Brown of McIntosh; four sisters-in-law, Adell Adams, Betty Adams, Willie Mae Adams, all of McIntosh, AL, and Mary (Jessie) Gilmore of Coffeeville, AL; one brother-in-law, James (Sarah) Toole of Buffalo, NY; a loving and devoted caretaker, Cornelius Diane Luden; and a host of nieces and nephews; devoted friends, Coney Tolbert, Sue Bell Rouse, and Min. Shirley Sullivan.

Viewing Friday, March 16, 2018, 2-5pm at Andrews Funeral Home; viewing Saturday, March 17, 2018, 9am until the 11am service at Lang's Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, 551 River Road, McIntosh, AL 36553, Rev. Harold Griffin, pastor/eulogist. Following burial in Vaughn Cemetery, McIntosh, AL, the family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the church.

Services with sympathetic care and legendary professionalism entrusted to Andrews Funeral Home, 800 Depot Road, Jackson, AL. Condolences to the family at www.andrewsfuneralhomejackson.com and on Andrews Funeral Home Facebook page.