Rebekah Jean (Reese) Adams

Rebekah (Bekah) Jean Reese Adams, age 69, passed away peacefully at her home in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, on November 9, 2025.

Born in Boone, Bekah was the daughter of Dr. Gene L. Reese and Mary Frances Allred Reese. She attended Watauga High School and graduated from Wilkes Community College.

Bekah worked for many years in banking, where she was known for her dependability, wit and the personal care she gave her customers. Her dedication was unmatched. She famously rarely missed a day of work, even convincing her husband, Virgil, to drive her through Hurricane Hugo and more than a few snowstorms to ensure she arrived on time.

A devoted mother, Bekah poured her heart into her love for her children, Carli and Daniel. She instilled in them the values she lived by: gratitude, kindness, humility and a belief that everyone deserves respect. She shared her love of music and humor with them, blessings they are lucky to have. A standout on the dance floor, Bekah passed down her natural rhythm to her daughter, a gift that will forever enrich Carli’s life. Ever the music lover, Bekah once asked a surgeon to play Childish Gambino during a procedure, much to the doctor’s surprise and amusement. Bekah also loved her granddaughters, Drew and Avery, deeply, and took great pride in their accomplishments and silliness, surrounding her home with their photos.

A fan of true crime and John Grisham novels, Bekah loved to read. Friday evenings were a special tradition reserved for watching Unsolved Mysteries with Daniel, always accompanied by a well-done steak with A1 sauce, much to the chagrin of Chef Virgil.

Her spirit and humor endeared her to everyone she met, including her friends and caregivers at Rose Glen Village, where she made her home in later years. The family is deeply grateful for the compassion and sincere care she received from the Rose Glen staff and caregivers, Stephanie Church, Debbie Woods, Megan Kilby and Jennifer Wyatt, as well as the generous care provided by Dr. Jerry Pinkerton.

Bekah will be remembered for her humor, beauty and selfless devotion to her family. Her charming spirit will live on in the hearts of her family and friends.

In addition to her parents, Bekah was preceded in death by her stepmother, Katherine Reese; her husband, Virgil Adams; and her brothers, Dr. Ronnie (“Doc”) Reese and William F. Reese.

She is survived by her brother Johnny (J.R.) Reese of Boone; sister Patricia Reese Yale and her husband Rick Yale of Hays; daughter Carli Bryce Adams, her partner Kevin Bauguess, and granddaughter Drew Hoofnagle of Asheville; son Daniel Belk Adams, his wife Alisha Adams, and granddaughter Avery Adams of Silver Spring, Maryland. She is also survived by step-siblings Boyd, Travis, Evin and Elaine.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to support the resting place of Bekah and her family at Mount Lawn Memorial Park & Gardens in Boone. Donations to the Mount Lawn Cemetery Association can be made here: https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=37CV72ZLD42EE. The family kindly requests that donors add a public comment on the campaign page stating, “In memory of Rebekah Reese Adams.”

A graveside service will be held Friday, November 14, 2025 at 1:00 PM at Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens, Boone, NC.

Online condolences may be shared at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com

Austin and Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Adams family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rebekah Jean (Reese) Adams, please visit our floral store.