excellence honors God.

He looked for excellence in worship. He looked for excellence in ministries. Hartford Church was a very blessed church in that there were a number of very well-educated people, but it wasn't about just being in a church full of people who were credentialed. He wanted them to think intellectually. He wanted them to seek the best in whatever it was that we did. He felt that God deserved the best. People around him knew he had a contagious desire for perfection and brought a high level of quality and substance.” enue to the city.

Under Dr. Adams’s leadership, Hartford invested heavily in scholarship funds, seeking to help high school and college students pursue education. He was instrumental in a partnership with the Presbyterian Villages of Michigan to build Detroit’s first gated community for senior citizens, Hartford Village. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Hartford opened its doors as a testing site and vaccination center for the community. The congregation also provides weekly grocery distribution to families in need.

“Dr. Adams is a very generous pastor and friend. It was almost like he couldn’t say no. If someone had a need, he would find a way to meet it,” said Dr. Abbington.

Dr. Adams is also a strong supporter of classical music: Hartford has presented concerts of DSO chamber ensembles, the University of Michigan Men’s Glee Club, and many HBCU choral groups, exposing families and youth to classical music without charge. Hartford has enjoyed a multitude of collaborations with local and national musical organizations including the Warren Symphony Orchestra, the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra, and Detroit Opera. For more than 50 years, Hartford has annually presented Handel's Messiah free of charge to a diverse audience from across Metro Detroit.

In the 1980s, Dr. Adams was instrumental in the installation of a massive new organ at Hartford—the largest ecclesiastical purchase of its kind of any Black church in the United States—ensuring the space served not only as a house of worship, but also as a place to host exceptional musical experiences.

Since the inception of Classical Roots, Dr. Adams has served as a key partner and supporter. He enjoyed a close relationship with instrumental Classical Roots figure Brazeal Dennard, uniting on their shared belief in the importance of celebrating musical diversity.

Through his life’s work in ministry, education, social action, community activism, and music, Dr. Adams has enriched Classical Roots, Hartford, the City of Detroit, and beyond in immeasurable ways.