Lillian Hornetta Adams was born November 8, 1932 at her home located at 1215 Division Avenue in East St. Louis, Illinois to the union of Horace Alden Adams and Fairview Edna Dameron Adams. She was the seventh of seven children. Her parents, four siblings (Lee Nora Adams, Leeman Adams, her twin sister, Vivian Adams, and Estine Weston) all preceded her in death.

Lillian professed a belief in Jesus Christ at an early age at the Saint Luke African Methodist Episcopal Church in East St. Louis, Illinois. Her mother, Edna, led Lillian and her siblings to build a strong relationship with God and serve Him with the utmost of passion. Throughout her lifelong membership at St. Luke, she served as a choir member, trustee, steward, Director of Christian Education, President of the Lay Organization, and President of the Progressive Club. St. Luke Church served as one of her primary development grounds for her compassion and her love for others. She preached about giving your time, talent, and treasure, and led by example.

She attended East St. Louis School District #189 public schools, graduating a year early from Lincoln Senior High School with the June class of 1949. Lillian had been among the first Black students to integrate Johnson Elementary School as a third grader in 1940, helping to execute the pursuit of her late father, Horace, who had been a prolific civil rights leader and politician. Horace Adams and others had fought for the integration of Johnson and other public schools in the East St. Louis School District. Lillian's passion for justice and for enhancing the lives of people, especially children, came from her parents.

Lillian continued her educational pursuit, thanks to scholarships provided by Congressman Melvin Price for Vivian and her to attend the University of Illinois, the State's flagship university, following in the footsteps of their brother, Leeman. Lillian intertwined her academic education with other learning provided during her high school and college days by working for her sister, Bestine, in her dry-cleaning business, by working for Dr. and Mrs. A.M. Jackson, and by law clerking for Attorney Billy Jones. The work experiences helped to build Lillian's work ethic and responsibility level.

Upon graduating from the University of Illinois, Lillian accepted a job in Kansas City teaching both English and French at Kansas City Sumner, as she was too young to teach in Illinois. Her career in her East St. Louis District #189 began in 1954, teaching second grade at Dunbar Elementary School. Recognizing Lillian's outstanding grasp of language arts, District officials moved her to Lincoln Senior High to challenge and push students to prepare for careers and for higher education.

As her career was progressing, Lillian's other phases of life were developing also. She and her high-school sweetheart Alvin Lee Parks, a Korean war veteran and budding young teacher and coach, married on May 19, 1957, at the YWCA at 10th & Pennsylvania, a building that later became the Katherine Dunham Center. During the same month, Lillian earned with honors a Master of Science degree in Education from Washington University in St. Louis, MO.

Lillian built a career and reputation as a master educator, earning the nickname of "Tiger Lil," tied to the Tiger Mascot of Lincoln High School and her unswerving desire to bring out the best in her students. Her prowess as a teacher and her promise to deliver more in education and as a citizen of the world prompted her undergraduate institution to induct Lillian into the University of Illinois Hall of Fame in 1967. That induction made her one of the first African Americans and one of the youngest persons to be inducted.

Along the way to earning her University Hall of Fame induction, she and her husband brought two children, Alvin Jr. and Lauren, into their lives, Lillian and Alvin Sr., being educators, exposed their children, their other family members, and children everywhere to all kinds of situations, environments, and people. Lillian loved children and always pushed them to get the best they could get. The couple pushed for children to become well-rounded, well-spoken, and well-traveled. Alvin Sr. preceded Lillian in death, passing in 1998 after 41 years of marriage.

Many of the exposures Lillian encouraged came by way of Jack & Jill, Lillian became highly active in the East St. Louis Chapter, helping to ensure that children were getting outstanding co-curricular education. Because of her love for children and helping them do well, Jack and Jill and Lillian arks fit together like a glove on hand.

She became known as a productive and charismatic leader in her chapter, rising to the presidency. Jack & Jill members within the Central Region noticed Lillian and sought her out to serve as Regional Secretary Treasurer and then as Regional Director. The national leadership and membership took notice and elevated her right to the top, electing and re-electing Lillian to serve as the 11th National President from 1978 until 1982. In so doing, Lillian became the first woman from East St. Louis to head a major National organization.

Professionally, Lillian took on escalating roles including Director of Project Speak, Deputy Superintendent in Charge of Secondary Education, and Assistant Superintendent. During this time, she gained so much respect as an educator and community servant that her alma mater, Lincoln High School, made her its first inductee into the Lincoln High School Alumni Hall of Fame in February of 1978. She has also earned her Ph. D. with highest honors from St. Louis University in 1976, while working as a full-time administrator, serving her community and church, supporting her husband in his coaching, political, and business ventures, and raising her children. Lillian was doing everything and doing it well! Her tenacity and desire to show us a positive example drove her to success.

Having witnessed her leadership in Jack & Jill of America, members of the Links, Inc. national leadership asked Lillian to help them establish a Chapter of Links that would serve both sides of the Mississippi River in Metropolitan St. Louis. Lillian accepted the charge and organized the establishment of the new Gateway Illinois chapter, leading the new chapter for the first four years of its existence from 1986 until 1990. Her experience and charisma helped set a firm foundation for the Gateway Chapter. Lillian also served the Links as its Area Parliamentarian.

Lillian had developed much of her leadership serving as a classroom teacher and in her roles in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. during her almost 76 years of continuous service to Delta. Among her roles, she served as both the President of Alpha Nu Chapter at the University of Illinois and the President of the Gamma Eta (later known as the East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter). Beginning at the age of 25 , she is the youngest woman to have served as the East St. Louis Alumnae Chapter President from 1958 until 1960. Her love of public service made her a natural fit for Delta.

Lillian's late career and post-career years found her serving board and organizations as a source of wisdom and connection. These involvements include:            1. Helping establish and propel her son Alvin's political career.                                                                                                                                                            2. Helping establish and propel her daughter Lauren's entrepreneurial ambitions with the House of Miles East St. Louis.                                                                3. Helping build the educational and career pursuits of her grandchildren and other family members.                                                                                                4. Leading her neighborhood association for over 30 years.                                                                                                                                                                  5. Leading the Dr. Martin Luther King Commemorative Committee's activities since 1968.                                                                                                                6. Providing perspective on historical boards.

Entities and organizations have honored Lillian locally, regionally, and nationally for her mighty contributions to society as a whole and for her impressive impact on youth development.

God gave Lillian her wings to fly away and be at rest during the morning of Thursday, February 19, 2026.

Lillian leaves to cherish her life and contributions her children, Alvin (Jo Anne) Parks Jr. and Lauren Parks, all of East St. Louis, Illinois; grandchildren, Annalise (Christopher) Luna of Los Angeles, California, Lillian Parks-Goins, Lennium Parks-Goins, and Nariah Parks, all of East St. Louis, Illinois; sisters, Lee Annie Bonner and Bestine Tourijigian, both of East St. Louis, Illinois; sisters-in-law, Jean Parks of Farview Heights, Illinois and Marjorie Parks of East St. Louis, Illinois, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.