Ada Wynelle Ellis (Nelle) Wade

Ada Wynelle (Nelle) Ellis Wade, 88, died July 3, 2011 at Serenity Care Hospice in Perry, GA, ending a lengthy bout with cancer. Born in September 1922 in Crisp County, GA, Ms. Wade lived in Cordele, GA for much of her childhood and early adult years and was a resident of the Macon and Middle Georgia area since 1965, except for five years in Coffee County, GA in the1970s and two years in Virginia in the mid-2000s. She was preceded in death by her parents, Major Hope and Ruth Sargent Ellis; brothers Alton Ellis, Willard Ellis, and Major Hope Ellis, Jr.; and sisters Joyce Butler and Peggy Ellis, as well as her former husband, Julian E. Wade. She is survived by daughters, Bonnie Jones Faulk, Arlington, VA; Jill (Donnie) Powell, Thomasville, GA; Teresa (Bob) Wade, Mountain Home, AR; and Ava (Paul) Wilson, Kathleen, GA; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, Jennifer Jones and son Jackson Sander, New York City; Rachel (Jason) Greene and son Cade, Athens, GA; Blake Powell, Valdosta, GA; Janet Powell, Murfreesboro, TN; Jordan (Autumn) Wade, Charlottesville, VA; Russell (Christine) Mills and daughters Charlotte, Lily Kate, and Emma, Athens, GA; and Mallory (Matthew) Hillis, Colorado Springs, CO; sister, Elweda Hunt Oxford, Cordele, GA, and sister-in-law Opal (Charlie) Wade Rich. Ms. Wade taught English and French in Georgia high schools for over 25 years and was named STAR Teacher at Crisp County High School in Cordele by student Ben Turner in 1963. She was Salutatorian of the 1939 senior class of Cordele High School and graduated from Georgia State College for Women, later receiving a Master's in Education degree at Mercer University and a Sixth-Year Certificate (Ed.S.) in English at Auburn University. A lifelong Baptist who enjoyed bible study and analysis, in her later years Ms. Wade was a committed follower of the televised ministries and published works of Drs. John Hagee, David Jeremiah, and Billy Graham. An avid Scrabble player, Ms. Wade enjoyed board games and reading nonfiction. As a Civil War aficionado and appreciator of family genealogy, she had the opportunity when she lived in Virginia in the mid-2000s to explore battlefields and historic sites throughout the state with her eldest daughter, discovering the war record and Richmond, VA gravesite of her great-grandfather, Confederate soldier Bailey Mack Ellis; and reading well over 100 books on the war and several of the major Confederate generals whom she admired for their devotion to God, community, and family. A private memorial service will be held Saturday, July 9. In lieu of floral tributes, memorial donations to Heart of Georgia Hospice, 103 Westridge Drive, Warner Robins, GA 31088, would be appreciated. Harts Mortuary, Cherry Street has charge of arrangements.