Ada Lomax passed away at 84 in early January, at her home, of natural causes. She will be sorely missed by her family and friends.
Born on August 8, 1936 in Wadesboro, NC, Ada Marie Lomax was a daughter of the late James K. and Mary (Gatewood) Lomax. She lived in Baltimore through her high school years, before earning a B.A. in sociology and psychology from Bennett College in 1959 and continuing her education at Howard University, where she earned an M.S.W. in 1964.
Ada moved to New Haven in 1959 to work for the State of Connecticut Department of Welfare. She returned to New Haven after graduate school to work as a social worker and case supervisor with the state’s Family Centered Services Project.
In 1968 she became an assistant professor in the School and Community Program, a precursor to the Department of Social Work, at Southern Connecticut State College. As a founding member of the department, she primarily taught social welfare policy in the undergraduate program. In 1997, she retired as an associate professor from what is now Southern Connecticut State University. At her retirement she was granted emeritus status.
Ada was a world traveler, visiting Vietnam, Africa, and traveling throughout Europe. An avid reader, she also enjoyed cooking and baking, taking joy in sharing recipes with family and friends.
Although she did not live near her relatives, Ada visited frequently, and particularly relished time spent with her nieces and nephews, taking great pride in their accomplishments. She stayed in close touch with family by phone and, during the 2020 presidential election, texted everyone to be sure that they voted.
Ada was a generous supporter of Bennett College, the New Haven Library, and numerous other organizations dedicated to education, human services, and social justice. She was a longtime member of Dixwell Avenue Congregational United Church of Christ, which honored her during its 195th anniversary luncheon in 2015.
She is survived by two sisters, Edna Grace Allison of Cape May, NJ and Barbara Brooks of Fayetteville, NC; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one sister, Everlina Jones, and four brothers, Herbert, James, and Reginald Lomax, and Bland Gatewood.
Plans for a memorial service will be announced after the pandemic.
The family asks that memorial remembrances be made to Bennett College, 900 E. Washington Street, Greensboro, NC 27401.
Ada. was a kind, refined, and intellectual person that always was pleasant to everyone in church –
Thank you for your many contributions to the profession of social work.
God Bless,
Dr. Cheryl Green
Southern Connecticut State University
Miss Ada Lomax was one of the most interesting people I met after moving to New Haven in 1998. We met at a neighborhood gym and became such friends that she visited me when I was on a research trip in Vietnam in 2004 and later invited me to join her “lunch bunch.” The lunch bunch met monthly for many years until the pandemic. I am very sorry that because of that I have not seen Miss Ada since the first Monday of March 2020. She will be greatly missed, we plan to have a memorial lunch in her honor once we can safely meet again. C. Michele Thompson Professor of Southeast Asian History, Southern Connecticut State University
I was profoundly saddened to hear of the passing of Ada. My father and Ada were first cousins. The first time I caught the train was to visit Ada at her apartment in New Haven while my parents went on vacation. I was 12 years old and by myself, from Baltimore to Connecticut, so you couldn’t tell me that I wasn’t grown! Ada took me around to her girlfriends’ homes in and New Haven. She also took me to see the play Bubbling Brown Sugar in NYC. That planted the seed that would later lead to me loving theater and performing. While I didn’t talk to her often, I did speak to her on August 8, 2020, to wish her a happy birthday. Boy did we laugh! I was able to inform her that my wife and I visited Egypt in 2019, so you know we had a time. In light of her passing, I am so glad I made that phone call. Yes, Ada has left us, but if there ever was a person that really lived their best life, it was Ada Lomax. I am Chris Melvin; and I am glad to have known Ada Lomax. May the gates of Heaven swing wide to accept Ada into God’s glorious kingdom. May He comfort her relatives and friends, relatives and associations that will miss her tremendously.
Ada and I met when I was hired as an assistant professor at Southern Connecticut State University. She was so wise, warm and welcoming. I was very sad when she retired, and I missed her smile and wisdom through the many years the department was without her.
I pray that she is at peace in Heaven after a life well lived.
My deepest sympathy to the family of Ada Lomax. Ada was my college classmate and friend. I only learned of her passing on April 11, 2021. Ada was an excellent student, and she had a beautiful personality. She and I would talk for hours on the phone. She spoke with great admiration when talking about her sisters, her nieces, and nephews. We were roommates when we attended our last two college reunions. I am sure we talked in December 2020. Her emails from me were not returned, unfortunately. Ada lived a great life while enjoying her visits to many countries. I will miss her. I would like her sisters to reach out to me.
Rosalind Collins