SHERID SAILOR ADAMS JR.

LEEDS, MA – Sherid Sailor Adams, Jr., age 72, passed peacefully on August 8, 2023 in the company of his loving wife Starr Adams while under palliative care of Cooley Dickinson Hospice and the close attention of Care One staff in Northampton. Born in 1951 to the late Sherid Sailor Adams, Sr. and Shirley (LaFevre) Adams, Sherid was the oldest of three children and grew up in Riegelsville, PA which resides in Bucks County, enclave of many well-known artists. Nurtured in this fertile artistic environment, Sherid's artistic talents emerged at a young age, winning art contests at school and in designing a seal for the town of Riegelsville. Mostly self-taught from an early age, he later went on to study portraiture at the Art Students League of New York under reknowned portrait artist David Leffel.

Being a true Renaissance man, Sherid also delved into magic at an early age, learning slight-of-hand card tricks and eventually performing at birthday parties. He supported his art and magic endeavors by learning the sign painting trade, mastering wood carving, gold leafing and then incorporated these skills along with his artistic talents for portraiture and landscapes into signage for clients.

Sherid also devoted a great deal of his time in mastering the guitar and enjoyed playing in the early years on his beloved Martin, and later in life on his Dreadnought Guild, composing many of his own songs and tunes,

A turning point in his life occurred when a friend, who was opening a new business in South Florida, asked him if he would like to come spend the winter there designing a sign for his new shop and letter his van. While in sunny Fort Lauderdale, he met, through introduction by a mutual friend, the love of his life, Starr Sydell. They were married on December 24, 1983 in a beautiful wedding at dawn on a beach in Boca Raton and were subsequently blessed with two sons, Marlon Sherid Adams in 1984 and Dylan Charles Adams in 1989. He then started his own sign company, Adams Signs, as well as continuing his magic career under the tutelage of master magician Bill Malone. Starr joined Sherid's magic act on occasion, being levitated, hand-cuffed and vanished as well as assisting with the magic bunny and white doves as they performed for corporate events held at such prestigious venues as the Boca Raton Hotel and Club, and The Breakers in Palm Beach.

To continue his lifetime theme of being the Renaissance man, Sherid also devoted time to writing poetry, short stories and a couple of novels.

When it was discovered that Dylan was profoundly deaf at a very young age, the family started a new chapter in life and moved to the Northampton area, settling in Leeds, so that Dylan could attend the Clarke School for the Deaf. Sherid continued his artistic career in the Pioneer Valley, going on to show in many gallery openings. He worked as manager for Sign Graphix in Easthampton for a number of years and then went on to start up his own sign company once again, Adams Signs. Many of his lovely, hand-carved, gold-leafed signs still grace the Valley with their presence.

Sherid is survived by his wife Starr, two sons, Marlon and Dylan, a brother Michael Adams and his wife Mary (Mueller) Adams in Riegelsville, PA, and a sister Suzie (Adams) Plessor and her husband David Plessor in Bethlehem, PA.

In lieu of flowers, Sherid's family asks that instead you pay it forward with an act of kindness or finding a way to be of service to others. Following over 40 years of being a spiritual devotee to the Light and Sound of God and the Mahanta on the path of Eckankar, an Eck Celebration of Life will be held at the Florence Civic Center at 90 Park Street, Florence, MA on Saturday, August 26, at 11am for friends and family.

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