May 3, 2026. A Sunday. Robert George Adams Jr. died at Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, Tennessee. He was 67 years old. The Bristol area lost a man who had only lived there for two decades but had made enough friends to fill a church.
Robert spent most of his life in Maryland. Then, 20 years ago, he moved south to the Bristol, Virginia area. He put down new roots. He joined new leagues. He found a new church. But he never forgot where he came from. He kept his Baltimore Ravens loyalty. Maryland was his first home. Bristol became his second.
He played softball. He bowled. Teammates say he was competitive but never mean. He wanted to win, but he wanted everyone to have fun. When someone struck out or left pins standing, he did not yell. He offered a fist bump and said “next time.”
His musical talent ran deep. He played the saxophone. Not just at home, but in church. He joined worship groups and filled the sanctuary with sounds that made people close their eyes. He also loved classic rock. He could name the guitar player on almost any track from the 1970s. Friends say his music collection was a time capsule.
His faith was not a private thing. He showed up. He sat in the pew. He played his sax. He helped with fundraisers. He visited sick friends. People who knew him say he did not lecture about religion. He just lived it.
A gathering has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Garrett Funeral Home. A memorial service will follow at 3:00 p.m. in the Riverview Chapel. The Reverend Tracy Newman will officiate. The service will be relatively small. That is appropriate. Robert was not a man who needed large crowds. He needed the people who truly knew him.
Robert leaves behind his family and a long list of softball teammates, bowling partners, and church members who will miss his saxophone and his steady presence. He played sports. He played music. He played both with the same focus. He was not the loudest person in the room. But when he picked up his saxophone or stepped up to the plate, people noticed.