Wade Stewart

Four Oaks, NC: Mr. Wade Minson Stewart age 68, of 528 Thunder Road passed away Monday, January 14, 2013 at his residence.  Funeral Service will be 3:00PM Thursday, January 17, 2013 at the First Baptist Church in Four Oaks. Rev. John Norman will officiate.   Burial will follow in the Four Oaks City Cemetery with full military honors.  Mr. Stewart was born February 21, 1944 in Johnston County to the late Herman Minson & Velma Lou Holland Stewart.  He was preceded in death by a son, Lance Oatley Stewart. Wade graduated from Four Oaks High School in 1962 and  received a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Campbell University.   Mr. Stewart was a US Army Veteran serving in Vietnam.  He was very proud of the 101st and 82nd Airborne divisions where he earned the rank of Captain.  Wade loved Four Oaks where he served as Boy Scout Leader of Troop 60, coached little league baseball and served as past president of the Civitan Club.  Mr. Stewart received the honor of being the citizen of the year for the town of Four Oaks in 1983.    Wade was the president of Keener Lumber Company in Smithfield and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Four Oaks.  Mr. Stewart was sworn in as a County Commissioner in December 1998, representing District 3. He won reelection to his fourth term in 2010, which was scheduled to have expired in 2014. He was very active in public service, with a passion for serving citizens, emergency workers, veterans, and building schools for the children of Johnston County. Mr. Stewart was a charter member of the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 990.  Wade was Chairman of the Board of Commissioners from 2008 to 2010.  He served as Vice Chairman from 2004 to 2008.  He had previously served on the Criminal Justice Partnership Advisory Board, Social Services Board, Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee, and Local Emergency Planning Commission. He loved his family and helping people. Surviving include his wife of 45 years, Virginia "Jenny" Lee Stewart; Sons & Daughter-in-law, Chad Minson & Ursula Stewart, Gregory Wade Stewart, all of Four Oaks, and Jeffrey Wayne Stewart of Nashville, Tennessee; Grandchildren, Grant Minson Stewart, Andrew Lance Stewart and Grimes Oatley Stewart; Brother & Sister-in-law, E. Wayne & Julie Stewart of Four Oaks; and Several Nieces and Nephews. Family will receive friends from 6:00PM-9:00PM Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at Rose & Graham in Four Oaks, NC. Flowers are welcomed; however memorials may be made to Lance Oatley Stewart Nursing Scholarship Endowment Fund, C/O Johnston Community College Foundation, P.O. 2350, Smithfield, NC 27577.