COVINGTON, Ga. — A Celebration of Life service for Newton County arts legend T.K. Adams is set for Feb. 12 at Grace United Methodist Church in Covington.
And District 113 State Rep. Sharon Henderson, D-Covington, recently honored Adams with a presentation on the floor of the Georgia House of Representatives at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta.
Adams, who died Jan. 25 at age 87, served as the band director at R.L. Cousins High School and Cousins Middle School for 36 years and was elected Teacher of the Year on multiple occasions, according to information from the Newton County School System.
He also founded the Newton County Community Band in 1993 and served as its director for regular Christmas and Fourth of July concerts in Covington for 21 years before a final July 4 concert on his birthday in 2014.
The service for Adams is set for 11 a.m. at the church at 3145 Washington St. SW in Covington, with burial in New Covington Cemetery. Visitation with the family is set for Feb. 11 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., according to an obituary from Lester Lackey & Sons Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.
Henderson said she decided to recognize Adams because of "all the accolades" he received for his work over the years — and the many tributes given him after his death.
“I looked at the Facebook posts that were pouring in about him,” she said.
She said she met Adams and spoke with him in August 2021 when she presented him and wife, Louise, with “Outstanding Georgia Citizen” awards from Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
“He said, ‘Rep. Henderson, no matter what you do, don’t let anybody stop you from doing good in the community. You represent us well,’” she said. “That made me feel good.”
On Feb. 1, Henderson spoke about Adams during the Georgia House of Representatives' Morning Orders part of its daily calendar.
Henderson told the Georgia House that Newton County was “deeply saddened by the loss of Mr. T.K. Adams” before she asked members to observe a moment of silence for him.
"Mr. Adams added a ton of wealth to our community," she said.
"Most of all, he was a man of God with a heavy heart of love for God's people," she said, as a photo of Adams and Mrs. Adams were displayed on a screen overlooking the House floor.
Afterward, she said some longtime legislators, including the longest-serving state House member, District 135 State Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus, told Henderson about their admiration for Adams.
Smyre has served in the House for five decades and was familiar with Adams, Henderson said.
“He said, ‘Great man, very well-deserved,” Henderson said.
