Willie Wade,

WADE, Bishop Willie, Sr. – Age 95, passed away Friday, November 27, 2009 at Avalon Hospice. Bishop Wade will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 3-8PM Wednesday, December 2, 2009. Bishop Wade will be taken to Lansing, Michigan, where visitation will begin at 12 Noon Thursday, December 3, 2009, with a Memorial Service at 6:30PM at New Hope C.O.G.I.C., 6025 S. Waverly Rd., Lansing, Michigan. Afterwhich, Bishop Wade will be taken to Detroit, Michigan, where family hour will be held 10:30AM Friday, December 4, 2009 with Homegoing Celebration Service commencing at 11AM at Cathedral Conference Center, 10325 E. Jefferson, Detroit, Michigan. Bishop Willie Wade, Sr. was born April 21, 1914 in Hawkins, Mississippi, the son of Pompie and Annie Wade. Bishop Wade attended Hawkins High School in Mississippi and adult education in Lansing, MI. He graduated from C.H. Mason Bible College in Lansing, MI. Bishop Wade retired from General Motors Chevrolet V-8 Engine Plant in Flint, MI, after 30 years of service. He was called to the ministry in 1930 and ordained in 1934 in Mount Bayou, Mississippi serving as Assistant Pastor to Supt. O.S. Sheard until 1945 and from 1945-1955, he pastored in Rollin-Fork and Money, MS. In 1955, he moved his family to Flint, Michigan and became a member of Pilgrim Temple Church of God in Christ under the leadership of the late Supt. L.J. Jackson. In 1962, he started a church in Lansing, MI in the home of Deacon Marvin Pullum. In 1974, he and his congregation purchased a church. In 1988, he shared his vision of a church and in 1990 they cut the ribbon and marched into their brand new church. In 1992, he was appointed Superintendent of the Mt. Zion District of Northeast Michigan Jurisdiction by Bishop P. A. Brooks. He was later appointed chairman of the Ordination Board. In 1996, he and the congregation burned the mortgagee on this vision. In 2006, Bishop Wade was appointed Honorary Assistant to Bishop P.A. Brooks, 1st Presiding Bishop Church of God in Christ. His favorite things to do were to preach the gospel, win souls to Jesus Christ, and telling them, “You need the Holy Ghost!” Bishop Willie Wade, Sr. leaves to cherish his memory: wife, Mildred Wade; 3 daughters, Rosie (Ronald Zeke) Watkins, Corene Wade Adams, all of Flint and Pearl (Bob) Crawford of Pine Bluff, AR; 4 stepchildren, Eva Day of Corona, CA, Glenda and Kenneth Day, both of Flint and Drusilla Covington of Detroit, MI; 32 grandchildren; 84 great-grandchildren; 21 great-great-grandchildren; 4 sisters, Caldona (Joe) Wade Ringold, Angela (William) Wade Storvall, Ida Wade Simpson and Evelyn Wade Neal, all of Warren, OH; brother, L.C. (Nancy) Wade of Philadelphia, PA; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Bishop Wade was preceded in death by his daughter, Lucille Wade Peoples; 4 sons, Joe, Willie, James and Frank; parents, Pompie and Annie Wade; 5 brothers, Nathaniel, Ed, Pompie Jr., Lazonie and Roy; 3 sisters, Corena Wade Boykins, Lela Wade Jones and Rosie Wade; and wives, Littie Pullium Wade and Grozelia Wade. The family would like to express special thanks to New Hope Church of God in Christ family, Supt. and Mrs. Samuel Marsh, the Heartland Rehabilitation Center, Avalon Hospice and cargivers, Janine Ernest, Erma Bolden, Gertrude “Lady” Bedenfield, Equan Bedenfield, Deanna Pouncil and Linda Hunter.

Willie Wade,

April 21, 1914 - November 27, 2009