Nelson Leon Adams

Mr. Nelson Leon Adams, a resident of Mobile, Alabama, departed this life on December 19, 2025. He was born on July 22, 1937 in Mobile, Alabama, the third son of Cleo James Adams and Clifton Francis Adams, Sr. He was a beloved son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, and friend whose keen intellect, independent nature, and strength of character were admired by all who knew him. He was always becoming a better man. Nelson was a life-long learner who devoured books and periodicals. Reading the Sunday New York Times and doing the crossword puzzle was a passion. He had a unique sense of humor that would often catch others off guard. Nelson received his early education in the Mobile County Public School system, graduating from the Mobile County Training School at age 16. He received a full scholarship to HBCU Talladega College and graduated with a degree in Biology and Physiology in 1957. While at Talladega, he pledged Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He was a member of the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association’s Court in 1958. Nelson did advance studies at Iowa State University before being inducted into the Army in 1961. He served at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Aberdeen, Maryland. After completing his Army commitment, he was accepted into the Army Reserves and was concurrently employed as a civilian Biological Researcher at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. He was honorably discharged from the Army Reserves in 1966 and continued his career as a civilian Biological Researcher. Nelson married Eugenia Seldon, Genie, a native of Virginia, in Wilmington, Delaware in 1966. Nelson and Genie became parents and raised three girls in Baltimore while continuing their careers. Nelson retired from the Department of the Army in 2000 and returned to his home in Mobile to help with the family real estate and leasing business his father founded more than 95 years ago. Nelson spent his time supporting his family and traveling to see his daughters and grandsons who lived around the country and around the world. His life was centered on family and he was deeply proud of all of his children, grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews. He was a man of faith and was raised in the family church, Yorktown Missionary Baptist Church. While in Baltimore, he often attended church with his family at St. James Episcopal Church. Through personal and professional challenges, his faith and his family were his refuge and his salvation. Nelson was preceded in death by his ex-wife Eugenia Seldon Adams and siblings Melvin Adams, Clifton Francis Adams, Jr., Gwendolyn Adams Burton, and Samuel James Adams, Sr., and niece Marlana Burton Farris. Nelson’s memory will be cherished by his three daughters, Jennifer Adams (Douglas Martin), Julie Adams (Daniel Rubinstein) and Janet Adams (Seth Baldwin); his three grandsons, Max Moore Adams, Jonah Rubinstein and Simon Rubinstein; and his surviving siblings John Wesley Adams, Sr. (May Anne) and Carolyn Adams Lewis (Roosevelt). Memorial Service for Nelson L. Adams Friday January 23, 2026 at 11:00AM Alabama State Veterans Memorial Cemetery at Spanish Fort

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Nelson Leon Adams

July 22, 1937 - December 19, 2025