The Obituary
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
Nancy J. Wade was born November 14, 1929, in Huntington, West Virginia, to the loving parents Ivan and Garnett (Ward) Jackson. She was raised under the love and guidance not only of her parents, but also of her three loving aunts: Tilitha Ward, Betty Ward, and Althea Ward.
She was baptized as an infant in Young Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Huntington, West Virginia where she remained a devoted member until her passing. In 1946 she married the late Luther E. Wade Sr., the union begat Luther E. Wade Jr., Donald F. Wade Sr. (deceased), and David Wade.
With encouragement and support from her family and friends she enrolled in Wilberforce University, where she completed her freshmen year studying Economics. She then returned home and attended Marshall University, where she received her BA in Economics with a minor in Business Administration and Spanish in 1958. Even with a BA in Economics she realized that her contribution to her community would not fully be accomplished and in 1967 she began working
toward her second calling. In 1977 she received her Master of Social Work degree, with concentration in Administration and Child Welfare, from West Virginia University.
She worked faithfully and diligently for the W.Va Department of Human Services for 28 years until her retirement in 1988. Even after her retirement she continued to answer her second calling by working as a part-time Social Worker Instructor at Marshall University.
Through the grace of God she was able to achieve many accomplishments and conquer many obstacles. She was always proud of all of her accomplishments, but never boastful. She loved everything she did and in her work it showed. The family of Nancy J. Wade would like for all of her friends to remember her as she would want to be remembered, and that was being involved in her community; striving to make a difference; and impacting someones life in positive way.
Accomplishments
- Young Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church
(President of the Mary F. Handy Missionary Society (12 years), West Virginia
Conference Branch President, Senior Choir, Liberation Choir, Lay Organization)
- NASW (Board Member-NLID Committee and Western Field Rep.)
- Advisory Board MemberMarshall University Social Work Program
- Home Health Review Committee MemberCabell Huntington Hospital
- Home Health Advisory Committee Member--- Cabell Huntington Hospital
- State wide planning Committee of the Alliance for the Collection Preservation and Dissemination of West Virginia Black History
- Local Planning Committee on West Virginia Black History
- First professional Black social worker of the West Virginia Department of Human Services, Cabell County
- Delta Sigma Theta, Inc member
- Greater Huntington Church Women United member
- NAACP member
- Inducted in to the Marshall University Black Legends Society
- Mary F. Handy Missionary Society Sensational Sister recipient
- Selected Service Board member
- A loving wife, mother, sister, Nana, Aunt Nancy, and friend
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She is preceded in death by her parents; Ivan and Garnett Ward Jackson; her husband Luther Wade Sr. and son, Donald Wade Sr.; her brother, Douglass Jackson; and her sister, Elizabeth Olga Ward.
She leaves to mourn her passing; sons, Luther Wade Jr. (Terry Wade) and David Wade (Sheila Wade); sister, Emma Jean Canado; brother, William Jackson; grandchildren, Donna Wade, Donald Wade Jr., Dawn Wade, Donovan Wade, Donnice Wagoner, Sparkle Wade, Jovana Wade, Frantia Wade, David Wade II, Dominique Wade, Latoya Saunders, Luneisha Wade, Lovell Wade, Thomas Wade, Cristi Wade, Tara McDuffy, Lynette Wade; a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends; and dearest friends, Addie May Polly, Ancella Bickley, Carolyn Smotherly, Nancy and Elinore Taylor and many more.
Services will be 11:00AM Saturday, June 28, 2008 at the Young Chapel AME Church, with Reverend Angela V. Walker, officiating. Burial will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from 6:00-8:00PM Friday, June 27, 2008 at the church.
