Lillie Mae Adams

Obituary

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)
Lillie Mae (Hammond) Adams entered the world on October 22, 1944 at Margaret Hague Hospital in Jersey City, NJ. She was the middle of three children born to the late Herman Sr. & Sophie Hammond. Lillie graduated from Public School #39 and Dickinson High School both in Jersey City, NJ. During her time in high school she played Volleyball, Basketball, was the lead singer of the school’s choir and also began her singing career. Lillie started by singing background for the Manhattans and Kool and the Gang. After a while, Winfred “Blue” Lovett of the Manhattans wanted to start an all-female group. Together with special friend, Margee Barbee, Lillie became a member of “The Lovettes”. Lillie married Robert “PoBob” Adams in 1972 and later that year gave birth to her first son Darnell Adams. After divorce, she later met Melvin Goss and she later would have her second and third sons, Keith Javon Goss 1977 and Dwayne Lavar Goss in 1978.

Lillie worked in several positions with different companies throughout her life. Starting in General Motors, then later moving to General Electric, Bank of New York, Robert Halls and AXA Equitable where she retired as a Data Entry Specialist. After retirement she worked as a school bus aid for Hudson Transit. Lillie loved to keep herself busy, especially after retirement. Lillie could usually be found singing, enjoying gospel music, performing community outreach, spending time with her sons, grandsons and godchildren, playing her numbers, eating crabs and traveling to Upstate NY to visit family.

She adored her family and loved a family cookout or Sunday dinner where she was the life of the party. She wasn't a cook but she was always in charge of bringing string beans and washing the dishes. Lillie accepted Christ into her life at a young age and joined Mount Olive Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. W.M. Williams. Since then, Lillie served in several different auxiliaries including being supervisor of the Young Adult Choir, Williams Chorus, a member of the Celestial Choir, Mass Choir, Kitchen Committee, Food Pantry and a committee member of the Benjamin Hope Scholarship. She also frequently traveled to Poughkeepsie, NY, so much so that she also became a member of Beulah Baptist Church and sang in the choir.
Lillie made her heavenly transition on November 2, 2023 in Bayonne Hospital.

She is preceded in death by her parents Herman Sr. & Sophie Hammond, son, Keith Javon Goss and nephew Herman Hammond III. She leaves to mourn her 2 Sons Darnell Adams and Dwayne Lavar Goss, Daughter-In-Law, Lakisha Goss, Sister Dolores Hammond, Brother Herman Hammond Jr., 2 Grandsons Josiah Goss and Darnell De’Quan “De’J” Adams (his mother Pamela Reid), Great Nephew Jameal Hammond, 3 Great Nieces Kendra Houser, Jaylynn Hammond, and Tanaya Odoms, 7 First Cousins Rode Odom, Willie Mae Morgan, Shirley Kennerley, Henry Odom, Charlotte White, JoAnne Brewster and Richard Williams, 3 God Children, Renee Rhim, Devaughn Weaver and Jazmin Gooding, Special Friends, Margee Barbee and
Christeen Palmer and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, loving relatives, friends, members of the Former Young Adult’s Choir and Williams Chorus, and the Mt. Olive Baptist Church family.
Humbly written and submitted by the family.

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