'Wish momma was here': D'Marcus Adams remembers his mom, as he continues to achieve athletic success

Ormond Beach Observer
Sports

In the last year, Mainland junior D’Marcus Adams has been winning. During track season, he won four events to lead Mainland to a second consecutive district title. He went on to win two events at regionals to lead the Bucs to their first regional championship. And, in his first game with the varsity football team, Adams caught three balls for 175 yards and a touchdown. Despite all of his success, someone important is missing in his life – his mother Ruby Hampton, who died from cancer when he was 7 years old.

“It was difficult for me at the beginning,” Adams said. “My sister had to pick me up from school, and I always thought my mom would come back, but it never happened. I didn’t understand it until I got older.”

Adams still keeps a lot of his mother’s photos hanging up in his room. He says that a day doesn’t go by without thinking about her, reminiscing on the times she would take him to church and family reunions.

Nine years later, he has emerged as an outstanding student-athlete, and Adams hopes to keep Ruby Hampton’s memory alive through his success. And he dedicates every event to her. That’s why he writes “R.I.P. Momma” on the tape on his cleats for every game.

Ruby Hampton, D'Marcus Adams's mother

A father he’s proud to have

While he may not have two parents, Adams enjoys his father, Elbert Adams’s continual support.

“He’s at every game, every single one of them,” he said. “And I’m glad he’s there for me, supporting me in everything I do. That means a lot to me.”

Adams says he inherited his sports abilities from his dad, who wrestled and boxed in his high school years.

Worth repeating: “I always thought she would come back, but it never happened. I didn’t understand it until I got older.”

D’MARCUS ADAMS

In case you missed it: Mainland blanks DeLand: The Bucs opened their season with a 35-0 shut out over the DeLand Bulldogs on Friday, Aug. 26, in DeLand.

Quarterback Denzel Houston scored two touchdowns on the ground from 11 yards and 10 yards out. C.J. Wilson also ran a score in from a yard, after Houston connected with Jason Colubiale on a 50-yard pass. Wilson scored again from a 10-yard run, and Mainland blocked a punt, which ended in Kamron Lee’s hands, who took it in for a touchdown.