MOBILE, Ala. — Beloved local artist Alton Dwight Adams has died from injuries suffered on Dec. 13 when he was hit by a moving vehicle while riding his bicycle on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. He was 62.
Alton Adams
Adams was a familiar face to people who worked, lived, or played in downtown Mobile, according to the local CBS affiliate station WPMI 15.
Al, as he was known by friends, made a living drawing sketches of people he met on the street, mostly in the evening hours.
He had a Facebook page where he would stay in contact with his fans and friends, letting them know where he’d be sketching next.
According to local police reporting, Mobile police responded to a report of One Struck on December 13. The unidentified driver of the vehicle said he was traveling northbound on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. When Adams exited Gaston Street on a bicycle, the driver said he was unable to stop safely before striking Adams, who was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
A native of Jackson and resident of Mobile, Adams later died on Dec. 26 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, Fla, according to the The South Alabamian. It is not clear how he got from Mobile to Pensacola.
Adams was born Aug. 7, 1953 to Levester and Loretta Bracy Adams in the Salitpa community of Jackson.
He graduated from Harper High School, furthering his education at Bishop State Junior College until enlisting in the U.S. Navy in April 1977 as an E1 Seaman Recruit. He was released in August 1980 with an honorable discharge as an E2 Intelligent Communication Technician.
Adams enjoyed building things, but he had a passion for drawing, a love he continued for more than 30 years following his military service. He also found joy in cooking and riding his bike.
Visitation will be held Thursday for Adams at Jackson Memorial funeral home in Jackson, Alabama. Funeral services will be held at Mount Olive Baptist No. 2, also in Jackson, Friday Dec. 30, at 2:30 p.m.
Preceding him in death were his father, Levester Adams; two sisters, Sara Lee Bracy Johnson and Judy Beverly Adams Richardson; and a brother, Michael Fernando Adams.
Left to cherish his memories are his loving mother, Loretta Bracy Adams of Jackson; seven sisters, Marie E. (Will) Howard, Ollie (M.W.) Fox, Geraldine (Frank) Nash and Suda Byrd, all of Jackson, Loretta (Carlos) Verdecias of Cresco, Pa., Gwendolyn (Mac) Hunt of Hephzibah, Ga., and Sharon Williams of Selma; two brothers, Levester Adams Jr. of Jackson and the Rev. Sylvester (Earline) Adams of Eight Mile; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
If you know anymore about who the driver of the vehicle might be or if you have anything to share about Adams the artist or person, feel free to do so in the comments below. We will be updating this story with reaction quotes and videos soon.
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So sad that he is gone. Enjoyed seeing him at markets downtown.