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Donna Jean Hines Adams was born January 26, 1957, to Mary Lou Flack Hines and
Harland Wendell Hines, in Ashtabula, OH. She was their second of seven children. She
died February 11, 2026, in Pickerington, OH, surrounded by family and close friends
gathering near her bedside in worship as she walked through Heaven’s Gates.
Donna met Michael S. Adams at the age of 15 at a youth event in Louisville, OH.
Michael says it was love at first sight…all due to a piece of Double Mint Gum. After four
years of dating, they were married on December 4, 1976. Together they have three
children, Rev Jennifer (Rev. Jedidiah) Brake, Joshua (Melanie) Adams, and Joel (Stacy)
Adams. They have cherished being grandparents to their 11 Grandchildren: Matthew,
Olivia (Aaron), Gideon, Isaac, Landon, Benjamin, Miranda, Emily, Richard, Clay and
Aubrey. Her surviving siblings, whom she loved so very much; Brenda (Steve) Niro,
Linda (Dave) Masirovits, Wally (Rose) Hines, Gary (Jennifer) Hines, Daniel (Kim) Hines,
Mark (Sherri) Hines. She is preceded in death by her grandparents Tyree & Jesse
Flack, Harland and Evelyn Hines, parents Wendell & Mary Lou Hines, in-laws Ira and
Martha Adams, granddaughter Abigail, and a great grandson Lucas.
Donna attended and graduated from Jefferson Area High School in 1975. She attended
Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, Colorado with a certification in Women’s
Ministries in 1992. She was an active member of the Church of the Nazarene for many
years supporting Michael in Pastoral Ministry in Colorado, Texas, Ohio, Michigan, West
Virginia. She had a passion for women’s ministry, Christian education, compassionate
ministry, children’s ministry and world missions. Within the last year of life, she was
thankful to be a part of the New Zion Global Methodist Church as well as Leipsic Church
of the Nazarene.
Donna’s hobbies included: collecting porcelain bells, interior decorating (both at home
and at church), traveling, and being in Amish Country. Just in this last week, she told us
she was looking forward to disappearing in an Amish Cabin with a fireplace and turning
the cell phones off. She loved watching Heartland, the Waltons and Hallmark-like Family
Movies because they reminded her of her family.
Donna had an intense love for her children, grandchildren and soon to be great
grandson Blake. It was evident to everyone she had a conversation with. She had
always been proud of each of her children, their spouses and those loved
grandchildren. Some of those grandsons & granddaughters, said they would miss
playing tricks on Papa with her (which usually included rubber bands and lots of
laughter), being with her in church hearing her sing, and just listening to the many
stories she told each of them about her love of Christ, and playing tricks on her own
three kids. The fact that she was so immensely proud to be a Christ follower is what will
remain with us as we grieve, she was never afraid to tell someone about Jesus, and
they knew she loved them because Jesus loved them. Donna was also bold in her
conversations, and she never held back the truth in love. We may never meet someone
as bold as she could be, but we knew she had the gift of discernment. Every Christmas,
when her health was in its prime, she loved writing each family member a Christmas
letter. She loved to write out her thoughts on paper, and it was the most treasured gift
we all received and will miss tremendously.
A viewing ONLY, will take place for those locally at New Zion Global Methodist Church
in Baltimore, OH on Sunday afternoon from 3-5pm. Viewing and Calling Hours will be
Tuesday 11am-1pm, Funeral Service at 1pm, at the Jefferson Church of the Nazarene,
in Jefferson, OH. Committal following the service at Oakdale Cemetery and funeral
dinner for all loved ones in attendance.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donna Jean (Hines) Adams, please visit our floral store.