Wade was born in Columbus and became a christian while attending Freed Hardemn college in 1966. He finished his education at Miss State receiving Bachelor degrees in Forestry and Sociology and a Masters in Sociology. He met and married Gail when she came to Columbus to attend Miss University for Women. They have three children and six grandchildren.
After a tour in the Army where he served as a chaplain’s assistant he worked for the Miss Department of Humans Services as a counselor serving children with emotional and behavioral problems, retiring in 2002. After retiring Wade and Gail spend two consecutive summers in Tegucigalpa, Honduras teaching at Baxter Institute. He has also taught Sociology courses at Miss University for Women and is presently teaching part time for East Mississippi Community College.