Birth date: Apr 11, 1988 Death date: Mar 19, 2015
He leaves his family to cherish his memory including his parents Jay and Melissa Lytell of Aldie, VA; his brother Corey Lytell of Ashburn, VA. His wife Lauren Hinde and his son Westly Jay Lytell. His aunts Bonnie Richardson, Becky Read Obituary
Our thoughts and prayers to Jay, Melissa and Corey. We are so glad we got to talk to Adam and meet his family a few months ago. We will cherish the emotional hug we got from him. From a family of three sons are heart is hurting inside for you. We wish we could be there tomorrow to say are goodbye to Adam, unfortunately we will be out of town. We have a lot of great memories with your family in Dumfries, especially the night we had dinner at your house. That will be a night we will never forget. Our love and thoughts will be with you tomorrow.
Adam and I met through one of my best friends Lisa, that had worked with him, when we all were working in restaurants Tyson's Corner. Every so often in life, I meet people that without real reason, I decide, we're going to be fast friends. Adam was one of those people. We hung out pretty solidly for a several months, and yet it felt like we had been friends for years. Some people just have that affect on you. It was around Christmas time and we were over at Lisa's watching football; she and I had gotten gifts for the crew of friends that attended game nights. I can't remember if it was me or Lisa but one of us got him this hilarious plastic animal that pooped candy, but the look on his face after I handed him that wrapped present...you'd think the guy never received a present before. He was so genuinely touched, which made seeing him open it even more joyous. We had a good laugh when he realized what the gift was.
A couple of months later, we were hanging out at my apartment with my roommate and Adam was telling us about how he really wanted to go train hopping. Just pack his bag and leave the mess that he considered to be in Virginia behind. I knew he had been in some trouble in the past, and the fines from those disgressions were still lingering over his head. He claimed he didn't care, but I could tell that it was something that bothered him. I changed the subject and asked about his family, and that conversation led to him telling me the gifts his brother had given him and their family for Christmas. I remember him saying "he gave my mom a machete." I laughed so hard, and said "is there some family story involving him, your mom and a knife?" And for some reason, Adam had not put together that the gifts they all received that year, were absolutely hilarious reminders of (not funny at the time) events their family had been through; that they could look back on now and laugh...or at least it seemed that's what his brother's intention was.
I clearly remember him sitting back, obviously pondering in disbelief those hilariously thoughtful gifts, and just smiling to himself about it. While he sat there, I said to him, what he later told me kind of changed his life, was "although your parents and brother seem to be extremely different than you, it seems to me that they are reaching out trying to find common ground with you. Not everyone in life is lucky enough to have family that goes out of their comfort zone to meet you. It seems like such a waste to turn around and run away from that. Your brother also seems hilarious and I can't understand why you wouldn't at least want to know him better."
He had left the restaurant job, so we weren't hanging out all the time, and I assumed at some point he had left to go train hopping, but after several months Adam sent me a Facebook message to say that he took my advice and stayed in Northern Virginia to pay his debts before leaving to train hop. He got a job at a Potbelly's (I think?), and they promoted him to manager and were trusting him with keys. He said "ME. they gave ME KEYS!" That still makes me laugh thinking about it. I always kept tabs on him after that, and shot him messages from time to time to check in when he hadn't posted in awhile during his train hopping excurson. It was through these check ins that I found he was in love. I was beyond ecstatic when I found out they were going to have a son! We had lots of great meaningful conversations, but among the many memorable things he expressed to me, his desire to take care of a family was really strong. I am truly heartbroken that his family and this world lost this man.
I think the fact that it was Adam's reaction to the gifts he received that really endeared him to my heart, is a testament to the great guy he was. He was wildly hilarious and a sweet friend. I'll miss him, "AhhhhAdam."
Adam, I feel like I have written this over and over in my head for the past few days and I can't seem to get it right. I will do my best. Although tragedy was no stranger to you, I don't want to dwell on that right now. There will be time for all of that. I just want to share things that I remember & love about you.
I was so excited when I discovered you were expecting a son, and it was really cool to be able to share our experiences as new parents with one another. The joy present in the pictures of you and Westly is electric. You loved that little boy so very much.
You had such a quick wit and an amazing sense of humor. I will never forget performing with you in "Tragic Hero." I know you mostly preferred to be backstage, but man, you had a gift for performance, whether it was for an audience of three people at a party or three hundred in an auditorium. You were a BLAST to act with. You were a natural. I will never forget how impressively fast you learned your lines. I like to think that you learned them so fast so you'd have more time to make us all laugh hysterically every day at rehearsal.
There are so many great memories it's hard to narrow it all down. There was the "limo bus" at prom, the improvisational songs you'd make up at cast parties that had everyone in stitches, your guitar playing and singing, your awesomely eccentric fashion statements (I mean, that red plaid outfit...I'm praying that there is a picture of you in it somewhere).
I am going to miss finding out about your latest and greatest adventures. My heart breaks for your family. I hope the joy you brought to them carries them through this difficult time.
