John d'Estaing Adams went to be with the Lord on June 6, 2011, in Wellington, New Zealand. John was born on August 22, 1946, in Beaumont, Texas, the second son born to Viola Mae Joss Adams and Gilbert Timbrell Adams.
He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California and his Masters of Fine Arts from the University of California at Los Angeles from the School of Theater, Film and Television. He furthered his studies at the Royal Shakespeare Theater in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Two of his films were presented at the Cannes Film Festival in France. Being an accomplished songwriter, actor, pianist, guitarist, and entertainer, he toured with the Festival Theater Players at University of Southern California winning international critical accolades in a series of stage plays in England, Scotland, Holland, and Germany.
After working in Los Angeles, Nashville and Houston, John returned to Beaumont establishing a successful insurance agency. He sold the agency to move to Wellington, New Zealand to fulfill his dream of missionary work, and in 1992, he was called to mentor the youth of New Zealand becoming a well-known servant of the Lord for the last nineteen years of his life. His Christian faith was prominent in his life as he became a beloved favorite and well-liked entertainer in Wellington and Christ Church, New Zealand.
John had a vast knowledge of classic English and American poetry reciting most from memory. Among his favorite poems were Shakespeare's 'Sonnet 116', Lord Byron's 'The Destruction of Sennacherib', Kipling's 'If', Wordsworth's 'Daffodils', and poems by America's poets Whittier and Longfellow. His love for poetry began as a child as his father would read poetry regularly to the family, and the words made indelible impressions on all four children.
John's poetry has been permanently housed in the Poetry Archive of New Zealand Aotearoa. John made his way into New Zealand PANZA in member Mark Pirie's collection 'The Search' and in his novel 'Tom'. He was affectionately referred to as "Kenny" in Wellington for his resemblance to singer, Kenny Rogers. Beloved by Wellington admirers, a memorial service was held July 6, 2011, at Wilson Funeral Home in Wellington by his friends and fans. Mayor Blumsky commented that Adams "added a great deal of colour and had played a key part in establishing a new culture" in Wellington. A plaque will be dedicated in his honor in Courtenay Place, Wellington, New Zealand.
John is best known for his love of God, family and his Christian faith along with great integrity and a concern for personal fulfillment, freedom and social justice. Named for his Great Grandfather, Comte Rene Albert d’Estaing deVilleneuve of Paris, France, he was predeceased by his parents, Viola Mae Joss Adams and Gilbert Timbrell Adams; sister, Elizabeth Vi Adams.
He is survived by his brother, Gilbert T. Adams and his wife, Marilyn of Beaumont; sister, Patricia A. Adams and her husband, Tom Granger of Austin; eight nieces and nephews, Gilbert T. Adams III, Mary Margaret Adams Groves and her husband, Ned, Caroline Elizabeth Adams, Catherine Ann Adams Matthews and her husband, Matt, Julianna Vi Adams LeBlanc and her husband, Chris, Robert Joss Adams and his wife, Andrea, Cherissa Renee Adams, Michelle Adams Thuillier and her husband, Larry; and sixteen great nieces and nephews. He loved his family dearly and touched many lives along his journey here on earth and was an inspiration to all he met.
A Memorial Service will be held at his home church, First United Methodist Church, 701 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas on Sunday, September 18, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A reception and visitation with family and friends will be held at the church following the service in the church Parlor. There will be a private interment at the Adams family plot at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to either to the Mrs. Gilbert T. Adams Memorial Scholarship or the Gilbert T. Adams, Sr. Presidential Scholarship, c/o Lamar University Foundation, P.O. Box 11500, Beaumont, Texas 77710.
