Lawrence Stanley Wade of Memphis, Tennessee died on Monday. November 18, 2024 at his residence in Memphis, Tennessee. He was born April 11, 1926 in Memphis as the only child of Earl Wade and Virginia L. Wade, each of whom predeceased him. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Anne J. Wade, in 2015 and by his great-grandson Kennan D. Scales in 2001. He is survived by his son, Allan J. Wade, Sr. (Brandy Parrish-Wade), his daughter, Sherri D. Wade, his grandchildren Kimeli A. Wade, William E. Scales (Kesha Scales), Lauren A. Boyd, Allan J. Wade, Jr., Christopher L. Wade and Alana J. Wade and great-grandchildren, Natia M. Wade, Daniel J. Scullark and Xavier Scales.

Lawrence graduated from The Booker T. Washington High School. He was a U.S. Army veteran and after his discharge from the U.S. Army in 1946, Wade obtained a B.A. Degree from LeMoyne College. Wade obtained appraisal certifications from the University of Tennessee and the University of Virginia. He was employed as the first black staff appraiser in the Shelby County Assessor’s office and was later appointed as the first black member of the Shelby County Board of Equalization. Wade was named President/Manager of Mutual Federal Savings and Loan Association in Memphis in 1964.

In 1974, Wade was appointed by then Governor, Winfield Dunn, Commissioner of Personnel for Tennessee; Wade was the first black person in Tennessee history to head a major department of state government. Wade was later appointed Executive Director of the Memphis Housing Authority, where he served for over nine (9) years until his retirement in 1984.

Interment will be in West Tennessee Veteran Cemetery, Memphis. A memorial service will be held on December 13, 2024 at the historic Greenwood CME Church, 3311 Kimball Avenue, Memphis at 11:00 a.m. with a reception at the Church following the service. Online condolences may be made to the family at rslewisandsonsfuneralhome.com (901)526-3264.