Charles Benjamin Wade Jr.

“Devotion?”

That was Charlie’s gentle way of keeping us all on track. It wasn’t a suggestion so much as a loving nudge—his reminder that it was time to gather as a family, read God’s Word, and pray together. What began as a simple text became one of the greatest gifts he gave us. It drew us closer to Jesus, and just as importantly, it drew us closer to one another.

Since January, he especially looked forward to listening to and watching The Bible Recap by Tara-Leigh Cobble. And if you ever heard Charlie pray, you know his prayers sounded less like speeches and more like conversations with an old friend. He would begin with “Sweet Jesus, please watch over my kids, my grandkids, and my great-grandkids—those in Texas and those in Tennessee,” often naming each one individually. He never forgot his friends either, many of whom he talked with every day. He would call them by name and say, “Please watch over my friend Betty Bolton, and our other friends, on Your Path to Glory,” and “Thank You for those who take such good care of me.” And no matter the day, he always ended his prayers the same way: “And please forgive me of my many sins.”

On Friday at 2:26 p.m., Charlie finally walked that “Path to Glory” he prayed about so often. We imagine he arrived right on time, with plenty of stories to tell and probably a few questions to ask. He leaves behind hearts that are heavy with loss but overflowing with gratitude, fond memories, and more laughter than we can count.

Charlie's heart belonged to three things: Jesus, NASCAR, and Texas. He was such a devoted NASCAR fan that family plans were often scheduled around one simple question: “Is there a race on?” If there was, the plans could wait. Whether he was cheering on his favorite driver, swapping texts with fellow NASCAR enthusiast Tracey Yates—his “sister from another mother”—or studying the latest standings, Charlie rarely missed a lap. And while he was proud to call Mississippi home, everyone knew a piece of his heart never left Texas.

Through the years a lot of people have called him a lot of different names! While most of his friends knew him as “Charlie”, his family often called him “Bubba”, his grandchildren knew him simply as “Pappy”, and his great grandchildren promoted him to “Happy Pappy”.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Benjamin Wade, Sr. and Ann Wade of Pearl, MS.

He is survived by his sisters, Cheryl Nixon of McKinney, Texas, and Tammy Tadlock (Steve) of Pearl, Mississippi; his children, Wendy Hardwick of Crossville, Tennessee, Chad Roby (Lynn) of Flora, Mississippi, Cheryl Guernsey of Dallas, Texas, and Lauren Gillespie (Corey) of Randolph, Mississippi; his grandchildren, Haley Kett (Daniel) of Crossville, Tennessee, Chandler Hardwick (Juliette Harstick) of Crossville, Tennessee, Hunter Roby of Raymond, Mississippi, Chelsea Roby of New Orleans, LA, Emma Guernsey, Maggie Guernsey, Amelia Guernsey, and Andy Guernsey of Dallas, Texas, and Lennox Gammill of Randolph, Mississippi; and his two great-grandchildren, Finley Wade Kett and Adalynn May Hardwick, both of Crossville, Tennessee.

And though we will miss those daily texts, we suspect many of us will still remember his voice from time to time, asking:

“Devotion?”

A visitation service will be held at Baldwin Lee, 3780 US-80, Pearl, MS 39208, on Saturday, June 20 from 10:00 until Noon. Please come by and share a story or memory with us, we would love to see you.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Charlie’s memory to Harbor Day School, Jackson, MS; harbordayschool.com.