Ann Daniel Adams

Gloria “ANN” Daniel ADAMS

Ann Daniel Adams passed away peacefully on June 21st 2026 in Winter Haven, Fla. She was 93 years old. Ann, who is a fifth generation Floridian and was born in Plant City on June 7, 1933. Her father, R. Lewis Daniel, was born in Sellers, Alabama, on July 13, 1892, the son of Tom and Polly Daniel. He came to Plant City in 1908. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I and came back to Plant City in 1918 where he worked several years for the Post Office Department. He played the violin and guitar. He died in Lakeland on February 12, 1963. Her mother, Essie (Ellis) Daniel was born in Plant City on March 15,1902. She was the daughter of Ola and Ashley Ellis. She played the piano. She died on December 12, 1959. Her grandfather's name was Ashley Ellis and when the family got together for the holidays they called themselves the Ashley gang. Her mother and father are buried along I-4 in a cemetery donated by the Daniel family.

Ann attended public school in Plant City until she was 12 when her family moved to Dade City in 1945 to establish the Badcock furniture store Daniel Furniture Co. where she went to Pasco High School and was a center-forward on the basketball team, played trumpet in the marching band and then graduated in 1951. She graduated with an AA degree from Stephens College at Columbia, Missouri in 1953 She received a full music scholarship from Dr. Spivey (who personally told her that all she had to pay for was her Coca Colas) at Florida Southern College in Lakeland where she received her Bachelor of Art degree in music in 1955. Adams recalled studying while driving across Florida in a state police car that took her to a constant string of appearances. Patrolman Spot Clark, who drove her around that year and his wife put together the huge scrapbook two feet wide and three feet long. "It was just the most wonderful gift," Adams said. "And as old as it is, the book is still very meaningful." It was at FSC that she met her husband John Adams. It was also there that she was encouraged to enter the Miss Florida contest in 1954.

Her mother had her take piano lessons from a lady down the street, but Mrs. Sanchez insisted on long tiresome lessons and was only interested in classical music. On the same street in the other direction was a man who played the accordion. She was fascinated by it. She asked her father to buy her one and he said if you can play Home On The Range, he would. She began playing the accordion almost as soon as she was big enough to hold it. During the years from 1945 through 1948 she won a number of talent contests which were staged at the old Tampa and Palace theatres in Tampa and in 1948 she was the winner of the Doc Webb Talent contest on the Horace Heidt Show. Adams appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show", on programs Arthur Godfrey and Dave Garroway hosted, and on "Ted Mack's Amateur Hour" even before the Miss America pageant. She performed with the Four Aces, whose "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing" was the No. 1 song in the country in the fall of 1955 and said their agent wanted to tour with the group. Fame beckoned, but getting married, having a family and a stable life in Winter Haven had more appeal for Adams.

Ann Daniel Adams has enjoyed a most outstanding career in the talent and beauty contest field. She has won numerous talent contests with her popular performances on her favorite instrument, the accordion. Ann's conquest of the beauty world began at an early age when she was chosen prettiest baby at Plant City's Strawberry Festival at 10 months . She won five trophies during the Plant City Strawberry Festival Baby Parades from 1934 to 1939. She was Miss Radio Queen of the South in 1951. That was her first big pageant title and came with a trip to Cuba. Perhaps her greatest accomplishment in this field happened in 1954 when as "Miss Dade City" she was sponsored in a state-wide contest at Winter Haven and was selected to serve simultaneously as Miss Florida and as the Florida Citrus Queen. This was the only time any Florida girl ever won these two "beauty" titles at the same time. Her reign as the Florida Citrus Queen that year took on an international flavor when she made a highly publicized two-week personal appearance tour of many European markets representing Florida's citrus industry. As Miss Florida she went to Atlantic City to compete in the Miss America Pageant and received the highest rating ever accorded to a Florida girl when she was named First Runner-Up to Miss America of 1955. In 1954 she won the "Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair" contest to represent the City of Lakeland. Her climactic year in this field was in 1954 when she was selected "Miss Dade City", the "Florida Citrus Queen", Miss Florida" and named First Runner-up to "Miss America" Lee Meriwether who was her roommate at the Dennis Hotel on the boardwalk the entire week of the pageant. She wrote above her signature; "Dear Ann - You're the talent queen!! Best wishes always to a great gal". Ann won the swimsuit competition at the first televised pageant in Atlantic City in September 1954. A story from her scrap book described her as a "stately brunette". She played her accordion medley of "Lady of Spain" and "Moon Over Miami" with such ververe that a Hollywood talent scout later offered her a chance to tour the country. Movie star Grace Kelly, one of the pageant judges, wrote above her autograph to Adams; "My very best to a sweet and talented girl". The day she returned home from Atlantic City to a Dade City they closed the school Sept 15, 1954 to welcome back the girl whose pageant run began as Miss Dade City. Three thousand well-wishers crowded around her at what is now called the historic Pasco County Courthouse, and there was a motorcade. Placards were handed out with "WELCOME ANN" in red block letters and she was given a loving cup with the inscription: Our Own Miss Florida Dade City's Favorite Daughter Miss Ann Daniel. She still has the cup and her hazel eyes twinkled while glancing at it. Emily Larkin wrote in The Tampa Tribune the day after her welcome home: " It was an affectionate welcome straight from the heart that Dade City gave its favorite daughter, charming Ann Daniel, the runner-up in the Miss America contest"

On August 28, 1955 at Dade City, she was married to John Adams a prominent citrus grower and officer in the army who was born in Winter Haven on January 11, 1934. They honeymooned in North Carolina and Atlantic City where Ann was invited to perform at the next Miss America pageant. "John's big brother filled my accordion case with rice, "she said, "and it poured out when I opened it and everyone laughed."

She composed "Here is your crown" which has been used at several Miss Florida Citrus Coronations.

She renewed her active interest in music by composing the music and lyrics for an album entitled Buddy Canova sings the songs by Ann Adams, which was published by the Golden Treasure Publishing Company.

Ann arranged and directed the music for this album which has been highly acclaimed by her host of friends throughout Florida and the nation.

She was an avid grower of roses and orchids having won the American Orchid Society Award of Merit in Orlando and was a state champion Skeet shooter. She was also a lover of the beach. She and John raised thoroughbred racehorses. She also caught a woman's world record spear fish.

She was very active in the community and was chairman of the beautification committee of Winter Haven Area Chamber of Commerce and served as president in the Garden Club of Winter Haven and hosted two Holiday of Homes fund raising events. She organized Keep Winter Haven Clean and Beautiful. She considered herself a "people person " and genuinely loved her city and state and did everything she could to keep both beautiful. A pet project was working with the mayor in securing a sidewalk around one of the many lakes of Winter Haven and the Save Our Lakes project.

Ann is preceded in death by her husband, John P Adams and brother Wesley Daniel and parents Reese and Essie Daniel. She is survived by her children, son Dan (Trudy) son Tom and daughter Paula (Jeff); grandchildren Carter (Kara) Adams, Nathan (Emma) Adams, Chris (Brooke) Adams, Adam Snively, Bryce Snively, Thomas Adams, Alex Adams and 7 great grandchildren.

A special thank you to her wonderful caregivers Dottie, Erica and Joyce.

She was a member of First Presbyterian church of Winter Haven. The family will receive friends starting at 1:00pm, Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at the First Presbyterian Church of Winter Haven.  Services will begin at 2:00pm, followed by interment at Lakeside Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Winter Haven.