Libby Bigbie Adams

Elizabeth Ann Bigbie Adams arrived in Hardin County, Tennessee on December 20, 1959, welcomed by her parents Coda Whitson (CW) and Betty Cromwell Bigbie. She would spend her life there, graduating from Central High School in 1977 before continuing her education at Martin Methodist College where she obtained an Associates Degree.

On March 15, 1980, Libby, as she was known to everyone, married Jimmy Parker Adams. They had a son, Jonathan, and together created a life where each one valued the other above themselves. Jimmy served as her caregiver during her battle with cancer while Libby was his rock, always steadfastly believing that she would prevail and never admitting, even for a moment, that surrender was an option. When the doctors sent her home for the last time, Jimmy asked her if there was anything he needed to know, if there anything she needed to tell him. Her response? He really needed to clean out the attic, a task she had assigned him some time before and one which he had never tackled.

Through the years Libby held various work-related positions, beginning at First National Bank, then moving to B & R Lumber Company where she remained for four years. Eventually, she became the secretary for Clyde Blount during his tenure as Hardin County Road Commissioner, but 2001 found her with a different calling. From then until her death she worked as a real estate broker and was the co-owner of Crye-Leike in Pickwick. During those years she became a member of the Memphis Area Association of Realtors as well as the Tennessee and National Associations of Realtors, obtaining such designations as Broker, Senior Real Estate Specialist, Seller Representative Specialist and Short Sales and Foreclosures Resource. Despite these achievements, if you asked her husband, her talents were most useful as CEO of Adams Auto Sales.

Libby was a hard worker and a person of integrity and honesty, values that she exhibited no matter the occasion. She was gracious in all things, a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, and neighbor. One of her favorite positions was that of “domestic engineer” and her love of home and family showed in all she did, whether it was just spending time with them or working in her flower beds or her garden. The great outdoors often called to her, especially if a boat was involved, but she equally enjoyed her work and the times she shared with her co-workers. Her attitude of service above self reflected in all that she did, including her former membership in the Pyburn Union Church. That service took many forms, one being that she was instrumental in taking handmade head scarfs to those receiving treatments at the Darryl Worley Cancer Treatment Center in Savannah.

When Libby’s fight began, and even more so as it continued, she was surrounded by a very special group of friends who became the “State of Mind” Ladies. That was her motto—she knew the importance of her state of mind—and she lived by that motto until she drew her last breath.

Libby Bigbie Adams left us on October 28, 2014 at the age of 54 years, 10 months, and 8 days. She is survived by her husband and parents as well as her son, Jonathan, and his wife Kristin who reside in Savannah, Tennessee with their son—her grandson—Alex. She also leaves her sister, Retha Young and her husband, Greg, of Savannah, Tennessee, and her two brothers, Barry Bigbie and his wife, Tammy, of Hohenwald, Tennessee, and Ernie Bigbie, and his wife, Norma, of Olive Hill, Tennessee.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Marcus and Cora Cromwell and Ernest and Ethel Bigbie and her special aunt, Evelyn (Beebie) Valentine.

Memorial donations may be made to The Darryl Worley Foundation at 325 Main Street, Suite C in Savannah, Tennessee 38372, the Pyburn Union Church Cemetery Fund at 345 Pyburn Drive, also in Savannah, or to any charity of your choice.