Roll Call Tribute

Yvonne Elise (Hill) Adams 

June 11, 1969 - November 17, 2023 

The life book of Yvonne Elise Adams opened June 11, 1969. Yvonne was born in Austin, Texas to the late Willie Berry and Martha Hill. Yvonne was the proud wife of Mr. Kevin Adams and equally proud mother of three beautiful children: Brittany, KJ and Jaila and grandmother (YaYa) to Caysen. Though she was mother of these three, there are countless others she mothered while here on earth.

Yvonne was a graduate of S. F. Austin High and remained "Loyal Forever." She was an All-District performer in basketball and volleyball for many years receiving several accolades while competing. She was also an avid lover of kickball, winning a state championship as a Coach and being known as a great player for many years. She earned a scholarship to Blinn Jr College, where she earned National All American Honors. After taking her team to the national tournament for the first time in the school's history, she gained the attention of several college coaches, but chose Texas A&M University as her favorite. Once there she was immediately impactful and earned player of the week twice, all conference Honors and was named the Student Athlete of the Year in 1991. The Aggies' called her "The Thrill Hill".

Yvonne accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized by her uncle, the late Rev. Levester Wilson, Sr. Sister Adams was proud to only have had one church home her entire life: Corinth Missionary Baptist church. Growing up Yvonne was involved in all of the Youth Activities and was frequently asked to speak on behalf of the church. Later, under the pastoral leadership of Pastor Gary M. Renfro, Sister Adams worked with Hospitality Committee (President), School Principal for Vacation Bible School, and was the church clerk for many years.

Yvonne worked at St. Stephen's Episcopal School for 31 years. Coach Adams loved her job so much that she never felt like she was going to work. She enjoyed educating children alongside her good friends and had a special gift of championing the underserved and believing in the impossible. Though she never actually "taught" in the classroom, there were countless students that learned from her tutelage about life. She was the first person to hold the position of Director of Equity and Inclusion and she held that position for five Years. In 2019 she earned The Diversity Award given by the DiversityIS Magazine for her work on the national stage in diversity, equity and inclusion. She was also a member of The National Sorority Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., and enjoyed her time with the black female educators on the local and national level.

She lived in Westlake but was never too proud to return to or let it be known she was a proud product of or lift up her East side heritage. The life book of Yvonne Elise Hill Adams closed on November 17, 2023.
Those who are awaiting her homecoming: parents: Martha Hill and Willie Berry.

She is preceded in death by: sister: Wilma Jean Walker, uncle: Rev Levester Wilson, Sr., and aunt Mittie Bolden.

She leaves to cherish her memories: her devoted husband, Kevin Adams, Sr; her children: Brittany (Myles) McCormack, Kevin Adams, Jr,("KJ"), and Jaila Adams; her grandson: Caysen McCormack; her adopted child: Anitra Washington Baker (Tommie, Jr.); mother-in-law Brenda Foster, James Wilson (Carolyn), Frank Wilson, John Wilson (Gerri), her brothers: Marcus Henson, Marvin Hill (Norma), Daniel Ray Hill (Janice); Wilma Jean Walker (deceased), Barbara Crawford (Michael), George Walker (Charlotte) and Scotty Thompson (Rene); her sister-in-law Tracy Mouton, her brother-in-law Charles Dow, III (Trey).
Her special families: James, Montyne, Nicole, and Ebony Ockleberry and Skylar Harris and the Clifford crew and Bundyhill Gang, and adopted sisters: Keisha (Chris) Kinchion Jones, LaKeisha Williams, Michelle Arnold Tate and LaShonda (Aaron) Green; beloved members of the Glasgow Group, nieces and nephews: Joshua, Johnette, and Jamal Hill, Shametra, Roshanna, and Ketric Rivers, Toby and Destiny Hill; and a host of relatives and friends, SSES colleagues and students. To them all she leaves this uncompromising legacy of love passion and self-determination.