Take it one day at a time’: Friends, relatives gather to remember missing woman

Take it one day at a time’: Friends, relatives gather to remember missing woman

By KRISTINE SNODGRASS


Emotions ran high Saturday as friends and relatives of Leslie Marva Adams, a city native who disappeared from her home near Atlanta last year, gathered at the Shiloh Baptist Church to raise awareness of her disappearance.

“We’re just going to take it one day at a time,” said Phyllis Adams, her mother.

Leslie Adams, a Williamsport Area High School graduate, was reported missing from her home Oct. 24, 2005, in Lilburn, Ga. She was 40 at the time of her disappearance.

She last spoke to her mother around 8:30 a.m. three days before her reported disappearance.

Police searched her apartment Oct. 24 and found evidence of foul play, including blood stains and a shell casing, according to the Gwinnett County, Ga., Daily Post.

Family members became emotional during a prayer circle led by Rev. Joseph L. Harris, held in the back yard of the church, 433 Walnut St.

“Everybody just fell apart,” Phyllis Adams said

Members of the community turned out to show their support to the family.

“We’re all close,” Phyllis Adams said. “Everybody that was there, we all grew up right here in Williamsport together.”

Adams estimated that about 200 people attended the event.

“I didn’t think that that many people would show up, but I was very, very happy that they did,” Adams said after the event.

Proceeds from the benefit went to the Leslie Marva Adams reward fund, which is currently at $25,000 for information leading to her whereabouts.

T-shirts inscribed with, “Remembering Leslie Marva Adams. Still Missing, but not forgotten,” were sold. All 25 that were printed for the event were sold, Phyllis Adams said, and orders for 50 more were placed.

Buttons with her photograph also were sold, as well as food and drinks.

Five days before Adams went missing, she asked for protection from her boyfriend, Billy Joe Cook, 38, though police said they have no information suggesting his involvement in her disappearance.

The court document said that Cook was physically and verbally abusive and that Adams feared for her life.

Phyllis Adams said the police have not provided additional information since her disappearance.

Three searches have been conducted since October, Adams said, the most recent a couple months ago, but nothing was found.

Detective Marcus Head of the Gwinnett County Police Department is leading the investigation, but could not be reached for comment Saturday.

In the meantime, Adams has been praying for a call or a card from her daughter to let her know she’s all right.

“I’m just hoping that she’s in hiding from him,” she said. “That’s what I’m hoping, and that she’ll one day come out.”

Donations in the Leslie Marva Adams Fund may be made to Bank of America, 2333 Main St., Tucker, Ga. 30084, she said.

Anyone with information about Leslie Adams are asked to contact the Gwinnett County Police Department at (770) 513-5300.