Zebbie D. Adkins, 88 , passed away on June 22, 2022 after a brief illness. He was born on May 13, 1934 in Wetumpka, Alabama to the late Henry and Ruth (Peavy) Adkins.

He attended Elmore County Training School, which was part of the network of Rosenwald Schools, which educated more than 700,000 black children in the segregated south through a partnership between Tuskegee educator Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald, founder of Sears, Roebuck & Company. After race-based segregation in schools was ruled unconstitutional, Rosenwald Schools began to consolidate with existing schools and became obsolete. Approximately, 500 Rosenwald School structures still survive today and are part of the U.S. National Trust for Historic Preservation.

After migrating from Alabama in the mid 1950's, Zebbie moved to Orrville, Ohio for a short period of time while working at the Quality Casting Company. In 1957, he relocated to Canton, Ohio and was employed at the Canton Malleable Iron Company for over 30 years. In addition, he was also employed at All World Recycling for 20 years until his retirement.

He was passionate about learning and could frequently be found reading in his spare time. He had a large book collection and created a personal library in his home which cover topics ranging from world history to holistic medicine. He was a great chef and perfected many southern dishes that he enjoyed as a young man growing up in Alabama. He was also a master on the barbeque grill.

In addition to his parents Henry and Ruth Adkins, Zebbie was preceded in death by his sister Lera Trammell, and brothers Frank Adkins and James Adkins.

He leaves to cherish his precious memory his wife of 67 years Corinne, one daughter, Shirley Diane Adkins of Columbus, Ohio, three sons, David Adkins of Columbus, Ohio, Michael Adkins, of Canton, Ohio, and Tracy (Kimberly) Adkins of Akron, Ohio. One granddaughter, Talia Adkins and two grandsons Michael Smith, and Domonick Harrell, all of Columbus, Ohio. Two great-grandsons Tyrell Nall and Domonick Harrell II, both of Columbus, Ohio. One niece, Alazene Hunt, of Lubbock, TX, nephews Steven (Melissa) Trammell and Eddie Smith both of Wetumpka, Alabama. One brother-in-law, Samuel Mitchell, of Goodwater, Alabama, one sister-in-law Gussie Mitchell of Buffalo, New York and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He will be greatly missed. He is gone physically but never gone from our hearts.