John David Adams II, a baptist minister-turned-journalist who was known for innovation and mentorship, died Thursday, Jan. 13, at his sister’s home in Paloma, Ill. He was 46 and had been diagnosed in 2018 with stage 4 cancer.
Adams was born June 16, 1975, in Walnut Creek, Calif., to John D. and Marsha K. Mills Adams. He attended Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny, Iowa, and in 2001 earned his bachelor’s degree from Grace University in Omaha, Neb.
After college, Adams worked for several years as a youth pastor in Iowa, California and Massachusetts. He returned to school in 2008 and received his master’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California in 2010.
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While at USC, Adams served as a sports editor, writer and broadcaster for various student-run media. He also worked as a weekend web editor and sports writer for NBC Los Angeles.
In 2011, Adams joined the Los Angeles Times, where he served as online senior deputy editor. He spent nearly six years with the Times and won a Pulitzer Prize as part of the newspaper’s coverage of the 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif.
Adams was named deputy editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2016. He worked in Milwaukee for nearly two years before moving to Phoenix in 2018 to join The Arizona Republic, another Gannett-owned newspaper. During his nearly four years with The Republic, Adams served as senior director for digital storytelling and strategy.
In his obituary, the newspaper said Adams had “flourished as a strategist and mentor” and was known for his ability to make personal connections with others. Former colleagues described Adams as an “exceptional human” who inspired others and made them laugh.
A memorial service for Adams will be held at a later date.
