Terri Adams

Terri Adams passed away on March 28, 2026, while she was on shift at the hospital.  A place where she has spent the most of her adult career.  She was 68.  Our family is heartbroken at her sudden loss.  

A dedicated Respiratory Therapist (RT) through and through, Terri’s career spanned decades, and countless States throughout the United States.  As a traveling RT, she touched and transformed countless lives across the country, serving not just as a clinician but as a fierce patient advocate. She was a fixture in the medical field, known by coworkers and patients alike as a "mother figure" who gave with her whole heart and loved her people deeply.

To those who knew her, Terri was the definition of a "spitfire"—a Dr. Pepper-loving woman of absolute conviction and loyalty. She was the "pitbull" who grabbed onto what she believed was right and refused to let go. While this intensity was a "test of wills" at times, it served as a core foundation for her family.  Her certainty and her refusal to back down provided a life-long masterclass in integrity and persistence—lessons that took root in her sons, Dandy and James.

While her "iron fist" and "test of wills" were formidable, they were tempered by a profound, meticulous kindness.  She was a woman who would often hear of a passing need or want, and without request or expectation, try to provide the same - whether be family or friend.  If she counted you as a friend, you had a loyal ally - through any challenge.  

Terri was preceded in death by her son, Dandy Paul Esh; her mother, Barbara McCollum; her brother, Wayne Capwell; her nephew, Ares Smith;  her Uncle, Byron Dale Bowen, and Grandma Willie Bowen.

She is survived by her son, James Victor Esh; her sisters, CeCe Smith and Jamie Uphold; and her brother, Frank Shawn. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Austin Esh and Ashton Esh, and many nieces and nephews; including her sister-in-spirit, Sue Allen.  Additionally, she was survived by her support family including Chris Goplin and her RT family.  

Terri Adams lived a life of fierce independence and commanded her own destiny. She leaves behind a legacy of hard-won wisdom, professional excellence, and a spirit that—much like the convictions she lived by—will never truly be extinguished.