Maria Elena Welch Adams was born October 9, 1964, and passed from this life on November 5, 2023. She is preceded in death by her father, Charles “Chick” Welch; mother, Jeannette “Cookie” Vazquez; stepmother, Eve Roper; brothers Robert & Paul Stelljes; and stepsister, Kathleen Wolf. Those left to remember her are her daughter, Mallory Mowdy (Jared); brothers Sonny Welch and Johnny Stelljes; stepsisters Sandra Cupit, Genette Ratcliff, and Cindy Hawley. She also leaves behind several nieces, nephews, and four grandsons.
Maria’s life story is full of things that should have been. Relationships that she should have had, memories that she should have made and moments that she should have treasured. Addiction sunk its claws deep into Maria while she was a young person, and she was never able to escape its tight grasp. All of what should have been in her life was stolen. She was a product of a strong and vicious addiction cycle and was never able to find the strength or fortitude to escape her past. Sadly, she ultimately succumbed to the deathly grip of her addiction. Through it all she loved her family, and they loved her, despite having missed out on all that should have been.
In lieu of flowers, memories can be made to the Brookhaven Chapter of Alcoholic Anonymous in memory of her.
Brookhaven Beginners
223 North Whitworth Ave.
Brookhaven MS 39601
