Cleotha Adams Obituary (1956

Cleotha Adams, MSGT (retired), departed his earthly life on October 15, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada at the age of 66. Cleotha was born in Tallulah, Louisiana, to the proud parentage of J.W. Winzer and Pearl Adams. He was the seventh of ten children. Cleotha received his elementary and high school education through the Madison Parish School Systems in Tallulah, Louisiana. He graduated from Reuben McCall High School in Tallulah, Louisiana in 1974. Cleotha was baptized in 1981 at St. James M.B. Church, under the leadership of the late, Rev. Donell Horn, Sr in Las Vegas, Nevada. Immediately, (May 1974), after graduating high school, he entered the United States Air Force. He graduated basic training in July 1974 at Lackland Air Force Base and continued training at the Security Police Training School until August 1974. His first assignment was at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Marquette County, Michigan, there he had the responsibilities of: Strategic Air Command Close-in Sentry, Alarm Monitor, and Entry Controller for 3 years. In May of 1977, Cleotha was assigned to Osan Air Force Base in Korea where he served as the Alert Fire Team Leader. With great pride and dedication Cleotha continued to serve our country. In 1978, he was assighned to Griffins Air Force Base in Syracuse, New York in the position of the Area Supervisor. He re-enlisted in 1979 and was assigned to the 554 Security Police Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada as Area Sipervisor Flight Chief. In 1982, he was assigned to the Kunsan Air Force Base in Korea as Area Supervisor, Fire Team Leader. In 1983, Cleotha was assigned to Carswell Air Force Base, in Fort Worth, Texas as a Security olice Officer Trainer. Pursuing his passion to serve our country, in 1985, he was assigned to Taegu Air Force Base in Korea as Flight Chief Military Customs Inspector. In 1986, he was assigned to Carswell Air Force Base and served as Flight Elementary Leader, Area Supervisor. In 1989, he was assigned to Kunsan Air Force Base as Flight Sergeant. Continuing His career to serve and protect our country, in 1990, Cleotha was assigned to Beale Air Force Base in Yuba City, California, where he served as Flight Chief, Temporary First Sergeant, and Superintendent of Corrections. In 1991, he deployed to Desert Shield/Desert Storm as the Superintendent of deployed Security Police forces protecting the U2/TR1 Aircraft. Cleotha received numerous awards of recognition along the way, some of which include: the AFMSM, AFCM 2/OLC, GCM 1/SOL, Southwest Asia Medal, and Kuqait Liberation Medal, just to name a few. Finally, he retired, on May 30, 1994, after 20 years of service, however, he remained a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Security Forces Association until his passing. In 1995, Cleotha began his second career by joining the Yuba City Sheriff's Department as a Corrections Officer and was promoted to Sheriff's Sergeant shortly thereafter. During this time, he received many awards and recognitions as well. In February 2006, he was honored with a second governor's appointment from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the "Correction Standards Authority" board members and as the co-chair to the executive steering committee for title 15 and title 24 revisions. In 2008, Cleotha, was assigned to the civil division as "Court Security Supervisor". He oversaw all court securities; ran the Civil Unit which included Sheriff's Civil, and the bailiff's assigned to the courts. During his time with the Tuba City Sheriff's department, Cleotha led countless training sessions for jail staff and bailiffs, to include, but not ilmited to, less than lethal force, cell extraction, evactuation protocol, taser, pepper ball gun, and pepper spray training. In addition, to training at the jail, Cleotha served as an adjunct instructor at the Unions Insitute and University, the same University in which he completed his Baccalaureate Degree. In 2018, job well-done, after serviing 23 years, Cleotha retired from the Yuba City Sheriff's Department. After his second retirement, in 2019, Cleotha moved to Mesquite, Nevada as he desired to live closer to his daughter and her family. While in Mesquite, Cleotha was an active member of the VFW. Cleotha was also an active member of the Retired Security patrol forces at Nellis Air Force Base. He was passionate about staying connected to his military community. Cleotha was precede in death by his parents, J.W. and Pearl Winzer, Siblings: Mildred Adams, thomas Adams, Mary Ann Hardy, Osie Danage, and Curtis Adams. Cleotha leaves to cherish his memories, his daughter, Shaonda (Cory) Green of North Las Vegas, Nevada, granddaughter Gaylend Crawford of Houston, Texas, one brother Carl Winzer (Theresa) of Los Angeles, California, three sisters, Lena Sansberry, and Shelby Williams (Willie) of Compton, California and Develon (Nickey) Richardson of Lucas, Texas; his loving aunt Millie Adams of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Cleotha will be dearly missed. We salute Cleotha and thank him for all his years of service.