NEWS

Marcia Terwilliger Adams, resident of The Pines in Davidson, North Carolina, died after a brief illness with family by her side on December 19th, 2025. Her husband, Charles Collver Adams, died in 2009.

Marcia was born in DeKalb, Illinois on September 18,1931. She graduated at the top of her class at both DeKalb High and DePauw University. She and Chuck met at DePauw when they were their sorority and fraternity presidents.

Upon graduating in 1953 with a BA in Elementary Education, she taught 1st grade in Madison, Wisconsin, for a year then married in 1954. Daughter Debbie was born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, while Chuck was in the service. Later, when Chuck was working for IBM, daughter Ginny was born while living in Hammond, Indiana, and son Mark in Lansing, Illinois. In Lansing and in subsequent moves to Katonah, New York, and Princeton, New Jersey, Marcia balanced motherhood and community involvement. Her commitment to daily exercise led her to become the leader of a daily YWCA exercise class in Princeton which she expanded to water exercise and continued wherever they lived.

Although trained to work with young people, she found her true calling working with older adults leading Reality Orientation sessions and Chair Exercise in care facilities. She was eventually hired as Volunteer Coordinator of the Merwick Unit of the Medical Center in Princeton. When an opportunity for early retirement arose for Chuck, consulting with IBM in Charlotte, North Carolina, they moved to the River Hills Community in Lake Wylie, South Carolina.

They planned early for the final stage of life and returned to the vibrant life of a college town by moving to The Pines at Davidson. Marcia enjoyed auditing music classes and attending basketball games at the college. Marcia made a point of getting to know new Pines residents by hosting pie parties in her apartment and remained a loyal leader at church using her culinary skills to mentor adolescent girls.

Marcia leaves behind her three children and spouses: Deborah (Richard) Leavitt of Dover, New Hampshire, Virginia (Francis Rack) Adams of Hilliard, Ohio and Mark (Linda) Adams of Cromwell, Connecticut. She leaves six grandchildren and spouses/partners and one great-grandchild.

Her memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 31, at the Davidson United Methodist Church at 2:00 p.m. with a reception following at The Pines. In keeping with Marcia's zest for life, she expressed a preference for bright colors at her service. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Davidson United Methodist Church Bags of Hope Fund to prevent childhood hunger, WDAV, or the Pines Resident Support Fund.