Hilda Wade

On Friday, July 15, 1949 in Pineville, Louisiana, a beautiful baby girl, Hilda Jean Wade, was born to, Hillery Wade Sr. and Gladys Wade. She was the third of seven children. She enjoyed her childhood with her siblings, Jerry, MaryAnn, Hillery, Jr., Carolyn, Barbara, Ernest and Johnetta. Hilda was lovingly called “Jean” by her family and friends. As a young child, Jean loved to take care of her siblings, “Being the boss,” playing jacks and pickup sticks with childhood friends. Some of her dearest friends included the late Gail Hysaw, Debra O'Neil, Hanssoni, Ruby and Dot, and Sharon Sterling. Jean also loved to write. She would write on any and everything to show her beautiful handwriting. Jean started her education in Oakdale Louisiana. In 1956, when the family moved to Denver Colorado, she attended Garden Place Elementary, Cole Junior High, and graduated from Manual High in 1967. She later went on to attend Lavon Cosmetology School and Bon-Ton Beauty School. Being a beautician was her passion, she owned her own salon, Jean’s Hair Design. Along with doing hair, she also worked for the City and County of Denver as a clerk and Lowry Commissary as a cashier. She was a Bartender for the Jet Set. She was a strong business savvy woman. Jean was raised attending Bible studies, revivals, and a host of other church activities from a very young age. She was an active member of Macedonia Baptist Church and sang in the Women’s choir for 40+ years. Jean loved to attend Ebenezer Baptist Church when she could. In 1969, Jean met Joseph Thomas, to that union, a baby girl was born, Stacie. In 1976, Jean and Tommy Stein met and to that union, another baby girl was born, they named her, Morgan. The girls all shared a special bond that would prove to be unbreakable. Jean was blessed with four precious grandchildren, Terence (Pooh-Pa), Brittnye (Dong-Dong), Keiarah (Dae) and Zion (stinkpot), and one great grandchild, Zayden (Poppa). They all provided a great sense of joy and encouragement to Jean. If you knew Jean, you would know that she loved to be silly. She would bring her harmonica to every family gathering and would sing the Stevie Wonder’s song, “Very Superstitious,” being the life of the party no matter what hour she arrived (usually late). She was always late because she was not leaving the house until she was fully put together, with her hair done, nails, and the finest clothes. She was affectionately known as, “The Black Alexis Carrington,” “Fast Black” and “Black Beauty.” “She was lucky as all get-out,” she helped open Central City. She would jump in her car and drive to Vegas at the drop of a hat. She would ride in her black Cadillac with her grandkids with a no car seats having a ball. She had plenty of quotes from movies. “I’m just kiddin’ fellas”, “Do you want to go home or you want to go to jail?” to name a few. With her grandkids, she would always watch Little House On the Prairie, Gone With the Wind, The Five Heartbeats, and The Temptations. She also really enjoyed baking cakes, cooking for her family, roasting marshmallows and eating shrimp fried rice. Jean loved to scare people by using her nails to scratch on the doors or walls. Some of her other favorite pastimes included playing cards, 24-hour bingo, going fishing, and traveling. She will be forever missed and never forgotten. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Hillery Wade Sr. and Gladys Wade; her brother, Jerry Jenkins; brothers-in-law, Sam Pearson and Robert Graham. Hilda Jean Wade departed this life on August 1, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. She leaves to cherish her memory her daughters, Stacie Smith, Morgan Stein; her siblings, MaryAnn Pearson, Hillery, Wade, Jr., Carolyn Durant, Barbara Graham, Ernest Wade (Kay Wade) and Johnetta (Tony) Snell, and her sister-in-law, Brenda Jenkins, all of Denver Colorado; her four grandchildren, one great grandchild, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell - 6601 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO
Visitation: 8/10/2018 at 10:00 AM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 8/10/2018 at 12:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Cemetery: 8/10/2018 - St. Simeon Cemetery - 22001 Colorado 30 Aurora, CO
Family Gathering: 8/10/2018 - Family Residence - 5021 Titan Way, Denver, COloraod