Connie Lee Adams Shea died at 11:06 pm on March 15, 2025, at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, surrounded by her family and surrounded by love.
On August 13, 1946, Connie was born in Birmingham, Alabama, to Lynn Adams and Fred Adams. She had a very happy childhood and loved both of her parents very much. They remained guiding influences over her for her entire life, and she never stopped missing them.
She was blessed with two brothers whom she adored, Fred Adams, and Marc Adams. Although her brother, Fred, died young, she adored him, treasured him, and missed him for the rest of her life. Her brother, Marc, remained the most dedicated and perfect brother one can imagine. He was a constant companion to her, visited her almost every day, took care of her, and helped her every time she needed him. He always brightened her day and made her happy. She was forever grateful to him and the kindness he showed her when she needed him the most, as she became sicker and weaker. He was a constant companion to her, was always helping her, taking her for walks outside, feeding her in the hospital, or singing and dancing with her to her favorite music. She also was so proud of his children and grandchildren, Noah Adams (Justine), Zach Adams (Patrice), Sam Adams, Annie Rose Adams Land (Jake), Cole Adams, Giovanni Adams, Francesca Adams, Danny Land, Elsie Land, and Joyce Land, and loved every time they came to visit her or provided her with updates about their travels and their lives!
Connie lived in several places throughout her life and moved often while she was growing up. She lived in Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Schenectady, New York; Atlanta, Georgia; Valdosta, Georgia; San Francisco, California; Perrysburg, Ohio; Jacksonville, Florida; Gainesville, Florida; Orlando, Florida; Jacksonville Beach, Florida; Maitland, Florida; Longwood, Florida; Maumee, Ohio; and her final home, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Connie moving around so much provided her with a great sense of adventure and ability to adapt in all situations.
Connie attended Terry Parker High School in Jacksonville, Florida, where she graduated as the valedictorian of the Terry Parker High School Class of 1964. In 1968, she graduated Suma Cum Laude with a Bachelors in English from the University of Florida. In 1969, she also graduated Suma Cum Laude with a Masters in Varying Exceptionalities in Education from the University of Florida. She was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Society, along with receiving numerous other high academic awards, which was a testament to her brilliant mind. She remained a lifelong Gator fan and loved everything about the University of Florida and the Gators!
Connie was also blessed with inspiring grandparents who shaped the incredible woman she was throughout her entire life. She was very close to both of her grandmothers, and they made a lasting impact on her. She was always grateful for the time she shared with both Cora Lee Lynn Longino (Leland) and Anna Constance Martens Adams (Fred). Connie treasured veterans, and her grandmother, Anna, started her love for veterans by taking her to the Veterans’ home starting when she was 6 years old. She remained dedicated to helping veterans her entire life.
While at the University of Florida, she met her husband, John Shea. They were married on March 23, 1968, for 57 years, and they remained true dedicated partners throughout their entire lifetime. They never had a dull moment, lived life to the fullest, had so many adventures together, built an incredible life, and were truly happy together. As they grew older, they would sit together for many hours talking about all the memories they shared and the great life they built together. They were true partners in life!
An added bonus of marrying John was marrying into the Shea family! They shared so many special moments singing, dancing, laughing, traveling, and celebrating together. Connie shared a lifetime of FUN with all the Shea family and always treasured her relationship with each person, including Mary Shea, Jack Shea, Nancy Shea Bagby, Richard Bagby (David), Katie Humphries (Stan), Sam Humphries, Shea Humphries, Henry Humphries, Julie Williams (Joe), Charlie Williams, Kate Williams, Abby Williams, Tim Shea (Laurie), Mikey Shea, Clint Shea (Tiffany), Scarlett Shea, Sierra Shea, Molly Shea Carey, Chris Carey, Kelly Kezer (Matthew Karlesky), Alice Karlesky, Lucy Karlesky, Nicholas Carey, Sarah Carey, Andrew Carey (Brandi Page), and Charlie Carey.
Connie had many careers throughout her lifetime. She started as a special education teacher in Junior High School in Gainesville, Florida. She taught as a substitute teacher in Ohio in a high school, orphanage, and school for disabled children. She taught special education in Decatur, Georgia. She started the elementary gifted program and the summer elementary honors program in DeKalb County, Georgia, for more than 80 schools. She taught 3rd and 4th grade social studies at Park Maitland School in Orlando, Florida, where she met Melissa Gilreath, the sister she never had, and they remained lifelong friends. She was a substitute teacher at Ponte Vedra Palm Valley Elementary School, and she was also the PTSO President at PVPV Elementary School.
John and Connie developed, owned, and managed several hotels and rental properties throughout their lives together. If John could dream it, Connie could do it. They owned the Comfort Inn Mayport where Connie acted as the manager for many years. She made the hotel into a “home away from home” for so many people, and she truly developed a family culture for the many employees who worked for her at the Comfort Inn Mayport. They remained dedicated and loyal to her for her entire life. They truly loved her, and she truly loved them, and they became family to her, including Marlo Gelico, who became her loyal caretaker. John and Connie also owned the Comfort Inn Oceanfront and the Comfort Suites at the World Golf Village.
Connie believed in always living outside of her comfort zone.
She was an avid global traveler and has left all her family with the true gift and legacy of a love for travel and adventure. Some of Connie and her family’s favorite memories are the incredible trips they shared together! Connie loved to snow ski, loved to read, loved Gator football, loved history, loved Europe, loved spending time with her family at Mimi’s Beach House, and loved Jimmy Buffett music! She was a true Parrothead and loved to dance!
Connie developed many friendships throughout her life which she cherished, loved, and treasured. She often told stories about the happiness her friends brought her throughout her life. Connie was a loving mother-in-law who was always supportive of Troy Bowden, and she always enjoyed his visits.
Connie was a warrior, fighter, and often described as the strongest person people knew. She was the first kidney only transplant at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville on July 15, 2000. Despite her numerous health challenges, she was determined to live life to the fullest, and, at this time, she is the longest surviving kidney only transplant person at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville (24+ year survivor). Connie had numerous caregivers, doctors, and nurses who describe her as their favorite patient they ever treated, the most optimistic patient they ever treated, the most disciplined and compliant patient they ever treated, and the kindest patient they ever treated. No matter what was going on with her, Connie remained positive, kind, optimistic, a great listener, and a strong warrior.
Connie loved her family unconditionally, from her ancestors to her children to her grandchildren. Her most significant legacy will be the impact she had upon her daughters, Anna Shea, and Christie Shea, and her grandchildren, Carter Stoltz, Catherine Stoltz, Connie Bowden, and William Bowden. She provided them with unconditional love, support, guidance, happiness, kindness, and wisdom. She was always sweet, kind, and supportive to them, motivated them to achieve their highest potential, and was very influential in their everyday life. She loved to teach her grandchildren new ideas, helped them with their schoolwork, played with them, and encouraged them to develop a true love for learning, adventure, and travel. Her grandchildren are so blessed with the bond they share with their Mimi! She was always the most proud Mom and Mimi and will be forever missed, loved, honored, and remembered. Her greatest joy in life was watching her grandchildren grow up, and she felt blessed each time she was able to live to see another day with them.
A life well lived.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in Connie’s memory to one of the charities that support her lifetime passions, including education, healthcare, and veterans. If you make a donation, please be sure to note “in memory of Connie Shea” to one of the following charities: Wounded Warrior Project, Mayo Clinic, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, or the University of Florida.
We will be celebrating Connie’s life on March 31, 2025, at 2:00 pm, at Christ Episcopal Church in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The address for Christ Episcopal Church is 400 San Juan Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082. For those not able to attend in person at the church, there will be a live stream link sent out shortly before the service, so all can join in the service, even those from afar. We hope you will join us in person or online to celebrate Connie’s life!
