It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Vernese Wade on Sunday, December 22, 2024.

Vernese Wade was born January 26, 1960, in Daytona Beach, Florida, to Madison and Minnie G. Wade. Being reared in a Christian home, she confessed Christ and was baptized by the Rev. W.R. Lovelace at the St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Ormond Beach, Florida.

Her faith has been at the center of her life, having attended Sunday School as a child throughout adulthood. While in Tallahassee attending college and later for work, she joined the Bethel A.M.E. Church where her membership remained until she received her call into eternal rest on Saturday, December 21, 2024.

She received her formal education in the public schools of Volusia County, where she attended Rigby Elementary and Ormond Junior High School, and graduating from Seabreeze Senior High School in 1978. Vernese journeyed to Tallahassee to attend Florida A&M University, where she received her majored in Graphic Arts/Production Management and received her Bachelor of Science degree and later a Master of Education degree in Business Education from FAMU. She also earned certificates in Human Resource Development from FSU and College Business Management from the University of Kentucky.

Vernese retired from FAMU in 2022 after more than 30 years of service, having been the Assistant University Registrar in Academic Affairs, Supervisor of the Service Response Center in Plant Operations, and Resident Hall Director in Student Affairs. She also served as a Relocation Specialist for Homes & Lands Publishing Corporation, Inc., Editor/Coordinator for the Mental Health Association of Leon County, and Office Manager for Gallon & Sons Mechanical, Inc.

Cherishing her memory is her sister Eileen Wade of Tallahassee, Florida; nieces, Sharon (Ernest) Ball of Atlanta, Georgia; Rose Gordon White and Sylvia Gordon of Largo, Florida; Chanta Hicks of Bear, Delaware; Lynette {Lawrence) Taylor of Pembroke Pines, Florida; and Tonya Gordon of Largo, Florida; nephews, Matson L. (Jean) Wade Jr. of San Francisco, California, and Barry J. Wade of Moseley, Virginia; great nieces, Nicole Wade of Chester, Virginia, and Olivia {Erik Gokbora) Wade of Reno, Nevada; Godchildren , Langston Glenn of Chester,Virginia, and twins Brittany and Whitney Johnson of Tallahassee, Florida. Also celebrating her homegoing are her close friends Valerie White and Charles Williams, other relatives and friends.

Vernese's parents and brother Matson L. {Grace) Wade and sister Rose L. {Joe) Gordon predeceased her.

Life Celebration will be 12:00PM Friday, January 03, 2025 at Bethel AME Church. Burial will be 2:30PM Saturday, January 04, 2025 at Volusia Memorial Park Cemetery In Ormond Beach FL.

On behalf of the staff and management of Strong & Jones Funeral Home, Inc., we would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Ms. Vernese Wade