Wade Hampton Holder, Jr.  Age: 83  Born: December 12, 1927  Died: March 22, 2011  Location: NC State Veterans Nursing Home, Fayetteville, NC

FAYETTEVILLE — Mr. Wade Hampton Holder Jr., 83, went to be with his God and Savior the Lord Jesus Christ on Tuesday, March 22, 2011, after battling pancreatic cancer. Throughout his full life and numerous passions, Wade was consumed with an intense desire that everyone he encountered would discover the joy of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 26, 2011, at 1pm at Berean Baptist Church, 517 Glensford Drive, with Pastor Sean Harris officiating. The burial service will follow at Cross Creek Cemetery.

Born the 11th of 12 children in the family home in Harnett Country on December 12, 1927, Wade, known then as W.H., was son to Wade Hampton and Flora Stewart. In 1945, he graduated from Boone Trail High School and UNC in 1950.

Upon graduation, Wade was drafted into the US Army during the Korean War. After his discharge, Wade completed his MA in Education and began a teaching career on Fort Bragg. In Hope Mills he met the love of his life, Ms. Anna Ruth Lee of Fayetteville. After courting, Wade married Ruth on December 28, 1961. For 28 years, Wade faithfully poured his life into the lives of his students. His students understood 3 things about Mr. Holder—he loved Jesus, the Bible on his desk, and them.

A true Tar Heel fan, Wade loved sports. As a member of the NCAOA, Wade refereed football, basketball, and baseball and continued being involved even after retiring as a supervisor. Wade also loved checkers—it wasn’t just a game for him. He competed in tournaments in 19 states. On tournament Sundays, Wade would lead a morning worship service where he faithfully testified of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

From nearly the beginning of Berean Baptist Church, Wade was a faithful member and deacon. For 26 years, Wade taught the Bible at the Towers West Retirement Home, but Wade was much more than a teacher. He was their lay pastor. He celebrated birthdays, made hospital visits, took members to doctor appointments, and preached funerals. He loved the residents of Towers West and they loved him. Wade also served as a Gideon for 3 decades and led monthly worship services at the NC Veteran’s Nursing Home for many years.

Wade will be remembered as a godly man, teacher, referee, friend, and servant. He was a faithful and loving husband, father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Anna Ruth Lee Holder; 2 daughters: Karen Holder Guinn and her husband David of Zebulon, NC, and Sharon Holder Finley and her husband Ken of Timberlake, NC; 2 sisters: Myrtle Slaughter of Sanford, NC, and Ester Howard of Buies Creek, NC; a brother: Thomas Holder of Raleigh, NC; 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Wade Hampton Holder, III; 5 sisters: Margaret Porter, Bertha Lucas, Lovedy May Holder, Callie Cummings, and Oneta Morrison; and 3 brothers: Perry Holder, Lois Holder, and Layon Buie Holder.

All who knew Wade knew that he loved people and will remember him as a man who never had a cross word to say about anyone. Like his Lord and Savior, Wade always “went about doing good.” The family sorrows but not like “others which have no hope” 1 Thessalonians 4:13. Wade’s hope was in His Lord and he would want you to put your hope in Christ, too.

The family will receive friends at Rogers-Breece Funeral Home on Ramsey Street on Friday, March 25, between 7-9pm and asks that flowers be sent to the funeral home or donations be made online or at Berean to The Gideons International in honor of Wade’s full life.

Published in Fayetteville Observer from March 23 to 25, 2011

Wade was a Life-Time Member of NCCA, a very active tournament player with an ACF &  WCDF rating of 1885 in 2010.