Eulogy for Hugh

Hugh Adams

1957 – 2010

Many of us remember Hugh Adams as the tall, quiet man who sat in the middle section about two-thirds of the way back who, in the last few visits here, often left before refreshments and fellowship. But many of us often visited with Hugh after a service, engaged him in some rather passionate conversations during Torah Talk, or knew him away from VoB events.

Hugh was a man burdened. He was often downtrodden. He could be a man of despair. But he was also passionate, an animated conversationalist, intelligent and articulate—and a man of laughter.

Every person's life is like a vehicle, behind which trails a cacophony of bouncing tin cans tied by strings. The cans are filled with memories, perceived troubles, fears, hopes, wishes, kindnesses, and love. We recognize that although in his life Despair finally prevailed, he made a positive impact in various ways on those who got to know him.

He could enjoy other people's hopes and dreams. He visited our little houses and helped some of us move from one location to another. He helped us build fences, put on roofs, and put down hardwood flooring. He engaged in heated conversations and he could hold his own in an argument. He gave some of our children Popsicles from the ice cream truck. He was opinionated and strong-willed. He had hopes. He was a Believer. He was one of us.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Those who delved into friendship with Hugh soon surprisingly realized that he was a squeaky wheel. He was once a successful businessman. He was involved in local politics and co-wrote the bill that became the North Carolina Concealed Weapons Law. He was a former gun dealer who valued small government and big freedom. He loved motorcycles, especially Harley Davidson, and had a collection of them—and of motorcycle parts! He was a coffee drinker. He had big business ideas. He was tenacious in conversation; once he got his teeth into a topic, he would not let go!

Hugh was a man of complication, a man who leaves a void, and a man we did not want to go out unappreciated.

In remembering Hugh, let us cultivate love one with another and continue to keep the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves. Let us be mindful of the bumps in the road that our neighbor encounters and the resulting spillage. Let us spend time in prayer and supplication for each other, filling each other's respective cans with Kindness and Encouragement with the hopes that they will always overrun Despair.