Bruce Lionel Adams, a family man and a generous soul, died on July 31, 2017, at the age of 68. His sense of humor and willingness to help anyone in need will definitely be missed.

Born May 12, 1949, he was a member of Ben’s Ford Baptist Church, where he was a humble servant of the Lord. He was also a true Alabama Crimson Tide fan. However, as much as he loved Alabama, his family and friends always came first! A native of Washington Parish, Bruce enjoyed spending quality time with his family and church friends. He tenderly cared for both the Adams Cemetery and Ben’s Ford Church Cemetery.

Bruce worked 40 years at Temple-Inland before retiring in 2008. He enjoyed a close brotherhood with the Instrument Technicians and Maintenance crew there. He often bragged that he did not know how he had time to work because he was so busy since retirement! He swore every time he had to move Debbie’s classroom that it would definitely be the LAST time and she’d better call Simmons next time because he was through!

Bruce and his wife started the Children’s Church Ministry at Westside Baptist Church in the mid-1970s. Bruce drove the church bus while Debbie taught the lessons. The stories he told about picking up the children and taking them to church on Sunday! He was a firm believer in the scripture: “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Later God moved us to Ben’s Ford where he enjoyed helping and serving the Lord there.

He was saved and baptized on August 12, 2007. For years he had the bumper sticker on his truck that said, “I’m just a SINNER, SAVED by GRACE. His Bible is filled with personal comments and prayer cards of friends and loved ones he would plan to visit and pray for.

Every week he would label each sermon to include the dates and the preacher’s name beside the text. His coding was always a personal joke because he would incorrectly label Bro. Caleb name as BC and Bro. Lynn and BL instead of by their proper initials.

Bruce is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Deborah Miley Adams; two sons, Brock Lionel and Barrett Lea Adams; one sister, Phyllis Adams Nielsen; and one sister-in-law, Betty Byrd Adams; as well as other numerous loving nieces and nephews, all of Bogalusa. Bruce was “Pops” to Brycen Gonzales, whom he loved very much.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ellis and Irene Adams; his older brother, Jerry Adams; his niece, Kathye Adams Ryan; his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Miley Wood; and father-in-law, Mason Wood.

Friends and family are invited to the visitation, which will be held Wednesday, Aug. 2, at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 3, at Ben’s Ford Baptist Church in Bogalusa. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Lynn Martin, Rev. Caleb Martin, and Bro. Jimmy Byrd officiating.

Pallbearers will be Troy Crain, J.R. Miley, Bent Bickham, Wil Bickham, Keith Bickham, Walter Gibbs and Charles Pickard. Honorary pallbearers will be Willie J. Crain, Greg Miley, Jerome Ryan, Darryl Peterson, Ned Cegnelia, Dane Lewis, Eddie Ard, Shelton Pittman, Sidney Seal, Darryl Augustine and Elmer Corkern.

Interment will follow in the Ben’s Ford Baptist Church Cemetery in Bogalusa.