Decosimo CPA co-founder Jerry Adams dies

Jerry Adams
Jerry Adams

Jerry Adams, one of the founders of what became Chattanooga's biggest accounting firm, died Thursday in Chattanooga at the age of 74.

Adams, a Chattanooga native, started the Decosimo CPA firm in 1971 with Joe Decosimo and Marion Fryar and later became its managing director when the firm was one of the biggest independent accounting firms in Tennessee before merging with Elliott Davis in 2015.

photo Jerry Adams

Nick Decosimo, who succeeded Adams as managing partner for Decosimo & Co. and its successor, credited Adams for much of the growth of the company and praised his humble and generous manner.

"Jerry was one of the most self-effacing people you can imagine," Decosimo said. "I'm sure that the firm never would have grown as it did had Jerry not been our managing partner from early on until I took over."

Adams often arrived at the office by 4 a.m. and would work until 6 p.m. or later.

"We didn't know when or if he slept," Decosimo said. "In spite of that, he seemed to have boundless energy."

Adams was an active civic and church volunteer, including serving as the 1996 chairman of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce as well as chairman of the University of Chattanooga Foundation and the executive committee of the Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes, and treasurer of Rotary International District, the Tennessee Supreme Court Historical Society and the executive committee of Bibles in the Schools. He was recognized as the 1999 Public Service Award winner by the Tennessee Society of CPAs.

Adams taught the Sanctuary class of the former East Lake Baptist Church and The Seekers Bible Class at Brainerd Baptist Church and wrote the book "Christian Bible Challenge."

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory & Florist.

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