Geneva Calfee Adams

Geneva Calfee Adams of Cleveland TN passed away on Saturday September 5th at Avail Senior Living in Cleveland at the age of 96.

Geneva was born on January 5, 1930 in the back of Earl Calfee's General Store on Benton Pike which was also home at that time. She was the first of 7 children for Earl and Ruth Calfee. The first 4 children were girls - Geneva, Joyce, Frances, and Nancy followed by Frank, Steve and Terry. Geneva was the always the organizer and became a second mother in a rapidly expanding home. She attended Chilcutt Elementary followed by Bradley Central High School and then attended Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro where she graduated with a Home Economics and Education degree. She was Miss MTSU during her senior year in 1952. She married Ernest Adams in 1953 and they both returned to Cleveland as teachers at Bradley Central High School. Geneva taught Health and Physical Education for almost 40 years while Ernest taught Drafting. She loved her students and led many clubs and activities including the Pepperettes and Bachelorettes athletics booster clubs for over 25 years. She retired from teaching to care for family and became the caregiver for many family members in their final years. She cared and loved deeply and never met a stranger or someone she didn't try to help.

Geneva and Ernest were fixtures at First United Methodist Church and were founding members of the St Andrews class and teachers there too for over 50 years. Geneva loved flowers and became a Tennessee Master Gardener with her brother Terry. She also earned her real estate license and bought and sold homes with her siblings Steve and Joyce after she retired from teaching. She was always moving and sharing her faith and her deeds. She was a blessing to so many friends and family and will be deeply missed. Especially her infectious smile!

Geneva was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Ruth (Goins) Calfee and her husband for 70 years Ernest Adams, Joyce Calfee (Buddy) Miller (Lloyd) Utley, Nancy Calfee (John) Barker, Steve (Theresa)Calfee. She is survived by her son, David (Angie) Adams of Louisville KY and grandsons, Joshua and Cameron Adams of Louisville KY as well as Frances Calfee (Jerry) Jones, Frank (Pat) Calfee and Terry (Dianna) Calfee. In addition to a host of nieces and nephews that she adored.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday September 13, 2026 at the Ridge Sanctuary of Companion Funeral and Cremation Service located at 2412 Georgetown Rd NW in Cleveland TN. Visitation will be from 10:00 am-1:00pm with a service to follow at 1:00pm.

A private burial ceremony will be held afterwards at Fort Hill Cemetery with David Adams, Josh Adams, Cameron Adams, Michael Calfee, Al Shumaker, and Tyke Calfee serving as pallbearers.

In Lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the charity of your choice or Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center GI Dept.

You are invited to share a personal memory of Geneva or your condolences with her family at her online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral and Cremation Service Cleveland Chapel and the Cody family are honored to assist the Adams family with these arrangements.