Kayetta Lynn Adams, age 63, of Dahlonega, Georgia, passed away on August 19, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with liver disease. After years of living with chronic pain and months of fighting through the progression of her illness, Kayetta received the liver transplant she and so many who loved her had prayed and waited for. She fought with everything she had, just as she had done her entire life, but after the transplant, her body was simply too tired to recover. Surrounded by those she loved most, Kayetta left this life and went home to be with her Lord.

Her illness; however, is not the story of Kayetta’s life. Her story is one of strength, hard work, laughter, loyalty, kindness, and a love for her family and friends that ran incredibly deep.

Kayetta was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to the late Barnell Pryce and Barbara Rae Adams, but Nimblewill, Georgia, was home. She spent most of her life tucked away in the North Georgia mountains in the place she lovingly called “God’s Country.” She loved those mountains and the simple country life that came with them—the deer wandering through the yard, the turkeys passing by, and even the occasional bear making an appearance. She never took for granted the beauty that surrounded her. It was there, among the mountains and the people she loved, that Kayetta put down her roots, raised her family, and made a life that was unmistakably her own.

Kayetta was, above all, one of the hardest-working and strongest women you could ever know. She proudly raised her children, often working two and sometimes three jobs to provide for her family. She was fiercely independent and believed in working for what you had, keeping your word, and taking care of the people you loved. Life was not always easy on Kayetta, but she never expected it to be. She simply kept going. That strength carried her through circumstances that would have stopped many people, including years of chronic pain and serious illness.

But being strong never made Kayetta hard.

It did not matter who you were, where you came from, or what you had- Kayetta treated people with kindness and respect. If someone needed a helping hand, she offered hers. She may not have had much at times, but what she had, she was willing to give. She meant what she said, lived by her word and her truth, and people always knew where they stood with her. More importantly, they knew when Kayetta loved them.

Kayetta wasn’t always one for putting that love into words. She showed it. And if you were ever lucky enough to receive a Kayetta hug, you knew exactly what that meant. Her hugs were real- the kind you felt from the top of your head all the way to the bottom of your toes. They carried the love, gratitude and appreciation that words sometimes couldn’t.

And then there was her laugh.

Kayetta was quick-witted, a joker, and always ready to cut up. Her laugh was as loud as it was contagious, and she had a way of turning an ordinary gathering into a celebration filled with belly laughs. She loved country music, buck-dancing, bingo, her Hallmark movies, traveling with her girlfriends, cruising, and a good road trip. She could be ready to head out on an adventure at a moment’s notice and treasured the memories she made traveling across the country with some of her dearest friends. Kayetta simply loved to laugh, have a good time, and enjoy the people around her.

Of all the titles Kayetta carried in her lifetime; however, few meant more to her than the one she proudly wore as Nana. Her grandchildren were the absolute joy of her life, and she wore the title of Nana with tremendous pride and honor. She loved them fiercely and deeply, and even through some of the most difficult and painful days of her illness, they gave her a reason to keep fighting. Being their Nana was not simply something she did; it was one of the greatest joys of who she was.

Left to cherish Kayetta’s memory is her partner, Billy Fricks, Sr., and his son, Billy Fricks Jr. (Amber); her daughter, RaeLynda Merry (and her favorite son-in-law, Jonathan); her grandchildren, Jacob Merry, Joseph Merry, Jace Reeves, and Coien Fricks all of Dahlonega, Georgia, and her brother, Ronald Emmitt Adams (and her dearest sister-in-law, Debra) of Gainesville, Georgia.

She also leaves behind three treasured lifelong best friends, Barbara Garmon, Shari Holtzclaw, and Ariella Bowen, whose friendships with Kayetta spanned decades and became her sisters in every way that mattered; along with many nieces and nephews who adored her, and countless friends whose lives were made better simply because Kayetta was part of them.

In addition to her parents, Kayetta was preceded in death by her brothers, Victor Price Adams and Richard “Jabo” Adams.

Kayetta worked hard. She fought hard. She laughed hard. And above all else, she loved hard. Her strength will live on in the family she worked so tirelessly to provide for, her laughter in the stories that will be told again and again, and her love in every person fortunate enough to have known her.

It seems only fitting that a life like Kayetta’s should be remembered not simply with mourning, but with a celebration.

A Celebration of Life will be held on what would have been Kayetta’s 64th birthday, October 27, 2026, at The Views in Nimblewill. All who knew and loved Kayetta are warmly invited to join her family as we celebrate her birthday, share stories, laugh, remember, and honor a life that gave us so much to celebrate. The time will be announced at a later date.

Kayetta’s family extends our heartfelt gratitude to Tiffany Massey and her husband for so graciously opening The Views at Nimblewill to us for this special day. Tiffany and Kayetta’s relationship reaches back many years, to when Tiffany and her family were our beloved neighbors. Their generous gift of this beautiful place in which to gather and celebrate Kayetta is an extraordinary act of love, and one our family will never forget.

In lieu of flowers, food, or other gifts, the family asks for nothing more than your love and prayers. For those who feel compelled to do something in Kayetta’s memory, please consider giving the gift of life by becoming a registered organ, eye, and tissue donor, or making a contribution to Conquer Chiari, an organization supporting research and awareness for Chiari malformation, a disease Kayetta fought for many years.

There could be no more meaningful way to honor Kayetta’s life than by helping give someone else more of theirs.

To share a memory or offer condolences to the family, please visit Ms. Adams' online guestbook at andersonunderwood.com.

Anderson-Underwood Funeral Home, 2068 Highway 19 North, Dahlonega, Georgia 30533.