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Show in nursing. "You cant use racism as an excuse. He was teaching us a lesson chat we could take with us. Others have reragniand Ml Adams' fatherly accomplishments; last year, he was named die Father of the Year by the South Carolina attorney generals office. The award recognizes the impor- Following high school graduation, was always an expectation that you were going to get a job or you were going to go to school, she says. "You did one or the other, and we all chose to go to school. 1 was hoping somebody would say, Tm going to get a job and go to work,' but everybody went to college, laughs Mrs. Adams. Indeed, all 10 children graduated from college and several pursued postgraduate degrees. "We have a family of everything, says Tally, noting that he and his siblings have made careers in such diverse .professions as engineering, accounting, education, law enforcement, and marketing. They live as close as the next road down and as far away as Kenya. "it tance of fadierhood in the development of strong mnral rhararrr in AiUim Ttt gni or iiis Warm memories are many, of good rimes, hard times, and a houseful of love for Wayne, lallyi and their siblings who grew up in the modbrick home: Evetetr Adams, est, now deceased; Baifaaa Adams Simon, 31; Chivis Adams, 50; Gladys Adams Wilson, deceased; Audrey Adams Qunanski, 45; Rolando Adams, 43; Joyce Adams Morrison, 42; and Chiquiti Adams Dean, 41. We were poor; but we didn't know whar poor . meant. Thar was relative," Batfaan says. "Mom . 1 d. made all our dothes, and the kept us It didn't matter due all of it wasnt bought fromiai Sundays aMUMtfy sea Mane soealfier by fwnlly; Including, from lu store. Daddy worked hard; sometimes Mom WohindolMqrOrMn,Homnca,TaSy Jr, Barbara, and vyaynu. worked two jabs as wdL We taw work was a of the family required part of life. When friends of his children began visiting their home, Ml f They recall the hard work of farming, tricks they played on one 1 Iwl lilM Adams admits, "We were a second mother and father for a lot of another; and crowded femily trips. They like to retell the story of ' diem. young Wayne accidentally being left at a rest stop when they "Hes a father to the whole community, confirms his ' assumed everyone was accounted foe . wife. "People seek him out. He was PTA president at Lower With so many children to marshal about, Wayne remembers his Richland School. He was a deacon, a superintendent, and a father adopting a code. "Sometimes as kids we'd be watching TV, ni LhwmJ teacher at church. He always helped out when voting time and he'd come in and say, Ocain on down, go to bed. Tkinslatinn: came. now. of He Orain If something came along, he had to be involved in it. or the wiped youngex;move Everyone age Tally FThat's whats kept him alive he's been busy. that whole bunch out with no questions asked, Wayne recalls t . ...I His father has embraced many, and the caring is returned with a laugh. tenfold. Idly says. "He's a notary, so a lot of people come to When it came time to discipline, "he was sufficient, Tally shrewdly offers, smiling at his father. get him to notarise things because of the impact that's hes had on their life somewhere down the line, he says. "Then "He's a man who, when he tells die children something, he we've got cousins and friends of the family that hes been a means that," Mrs. Adams says. And his children knew that misbehaving meant consequences. mentor to, and they always come back because they feel like and would Mom do or wed times had, something wrong theyre part of the family. "Many all After and Adams had raised their family, they started over again in have 'til he Mrs. and home we'd wait tell Ml to Tm daddy;' day long your say, going got 1994 as foster parents. "After our children were gone, my wife decided she from work, knowing that was over our head. We'd try to win her graces, but it never wanted to help out some ocher children, Ml Adams says. "We had about eight worked, Wayne says. "That kept us in line because we knew what the punishment would be. I used to or nine, but we're down to one now. hw die feet that I was growing up as Deacon Adams' son. You esnt do anything They primarily raire boys who need dependable adult role models. Most Sundays after church the family and extended family crowd into the do like mold that. Deacon It's son Adams because a to wasnt supposed (wrong) Adamses' I be home for a lunch to good that Mis. Adams once was featured in a Tum-Li- ft would God now mold the but wished I in. times broken, praise Many you're book for her Southern cooking. because it 1ms mA- - the difference in my life, lays Wayne, now a minister. "We get together around the table and talk about what we ACIIIbIc call the good oT days, Tally explains. - His own With 27 grandchildren and two whnnling stopped after 12th grade, but Mr. Adams children. "When the value education his home remains a hub for activity. "Most of the children of their the to emptwsued whnnh amwl inwyrig here in South Carolina in 1963, tWO in the community gather here in the afternoon after school and on Sundays, too. I give my wife credit for putting up of our Aildnm were two of die fiat blacks to go co with all the children in the community, he says with a Lower Rirhhnd High School, he says. "I wanted my children eo smile. Tm very proud of her and die whole family." have the best education that they could get, so we pushed them " It's dear that the feeling is mutuaL to do the best that they could in schooL Education would open dooa for them, he told his children. "He let us know that with rdixarinn and higher learning, there's mfMNr (mmrWmr AUWP IvfiMX WOrOmffStj fmjoyml MV JlrKl WJ Mfitrmtambt spat with tbiALame. nothing you can't do," says Barbara, who holds a doctorate degree four-bedroo- well-dresse- L Part J l Lj ' LllV..J T'-i- f u IKlIlllCS (all-whi- te) . - ' . American Profile PaguT |