Lonnie Jasper Adams Wade was born on September 23, 1929 to the union of Luther and Francis IveeJasper in Lincoln County, Arkansas. Lonnie was a joyful and dutiful child who loved helping her parents with her siblings. She enjoyed playing with her friends and family along Wells Bayou in Arkansas.
Lonnie was truly a child of the King. Her walk with the Lord was exhibited in every facet of her life. When her memory failed, she remembered the Lord was keeping her. She loved her family and friends, but she loved the Lord more.
Lonnie received her formal education in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, graduating from Merrill High School and AM&N College where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Education. She taught in Forrest City, Arkansas at Steward Elementary School. After moving to Milwaukee, she received numerous Masters Degrees in
Library Science, Reading Specialist, and Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Lonnie accepted Christ at the age of 13 at St. Harmony Baptist Church in Wells Bayou, Arkansas under the leadership of Pastor Triplett. She joined New Hope Baptist Church when she relocated to Milwaukee. She later joined Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in 1970, where she remained a faithful member.
Lonnie humbly served her Lord and Mount Zion as a Deaconess, a member of the Missionary Ministry's Esther Circle, a member of The JasperlWade Quilting Guild and a member of Church Women United.
She was united in marriage to Manuel Adams on May 28,1951, to whom she remained faithful until his death in 1984. Their union was blessed with 8 children. In 1998, she married Willie Wade, Sr.
and she remained his loving, faithful friend and companion until God called her home.
Lonnie was a TEACHER. She lived and breathed education. She believed there was a lesson to be learned in all things. She began teaching at Wells Bayou School where her father was the principal. Her parents instilled in her and her siblings that education was the vehicle that allowed you to travel anywhere you wanted to go. Lonnie exemplified the true meaning of an educator, not just in the classroom, but in her interactions with her family, church, community, or anyone she met along the way.
She taught 1st and 2nd grades at Brown Street School for many years. Later in her career, she prepared student teachers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Lonnie returned to Milwaukee Public Schools as an educator at Lady Pitts High School. Her love of life, learning and her commitment to excellence were greatly missed when she retired from Milwaukee Public Schools in 1989.
Her love for community and the neighborhood where she resided for 55 years, led her to proudly
participate in the 5 Point Neighborhood Association and to serve as the past president of the North
Central Service Club. Mter her retirement, Lonnie spent her time reading, sewing, quilting, writing
letters, traveling and enjoying her time with her husband, Bill, and grandchildren. Music was an
integral part of her family's life. They sang together in harmony, lifting up the name of the Lord. She was blessed to continue using her God given talent, singing with her husband, Bill, in the Amazing Grace Chorus of the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute.
Lonnie Jasper Adams Wade departed this life on February 8, 2017. She was preceded in death by
her husband, Manuel Adams; her parents, Luther and Ivee Jasper; her brother, Cleotis Jasper; and granddaughter, Tawnie Joi Adams.
She leaves to cherish her memory: her loving husband, Willie Wade, Sr.; eight children. 17 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.
Lonnie was blessed to have a blended family of 6 children, 19 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.
Lonnie was the second child of 15 siblings. Lonnie is also survived by an uncle, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members, along with countless friends and neighbors.