Dr. Wade Thomas Macey

Dr. Wade Thomas Macey, 82, of Mt. Airy, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2018 at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home in Winston-Salem. Visitation will be on Friday, March 30, 2018 from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm at Moody Funeral Home, Mt. Airy. A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 pm in the Moody Chapel. Burial will follow at Skyline Memorial Gardens. Wade was born January 13, 1936, in Mt. Airy and was the son of the late Thomas Henry and Elizabeth Marsh Macey. A graduate of Franklin High School,Wade received his BS degree from Guilford College in 1960, his MS and PhD degree from Florida State University in 1962 and 1970, respectively. He taught Mathematics at Emory at Oxford in Oxford, Georgia (1962-1964), was a Professor of Mathematics and Department Head at Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, NC (1967-1982), and Professor of Mathematics and Emeritus Faculty at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC (1982-1998).
Wade is survived by daughters Sharon (Jeffrey) Macey Balfrey of Richfield, NC, Kimberly (Judson) Macey Handley of Franklin, NC, and son Wade (Beth) T. Macey, Jr (Tom) of Advance, NC; grandchildren Meghan (Ernie) Rushing of Raleigh, NC, Nathaniel Balfrey of Richfield, NC, Kyle Macey of Winston-Salem, NC, Will Macey, of Greenville, SC and Leah (Brad) Lacy of San Antonio, TX, great grandson Hudson; brothers Glenn (Barbara) Macey of Mt. Airy, Bill Macey of Raleigh, NC; sisters Bobbie (Wayne) Creed of Mt. Airy and Linda (James) Voncannon of Winston-Salem; the mother of his children, Barbara Hull Stoker, of Albemarle, NC (formerly of Mt. Airy);and longtime girlfriend and caregiver Ophelia B. Jackson of Kernersville, NC; and many nieces and nephews that he enjoyed teasing whenever he saw them. Wade was an avid banjo picker who also played the guitar, mandolin, and bass fiddle. He received his first banjo at the age of five, which was handmade by his father. As a young teen, he was inspired by Benton Flippen who later mentored the young musician at local square dances. As a teen, Wade played weekly for live radio shows at WPAQ with Joe Johnson and the Blue Mountain Boys. The highlight of his musical career was performing on the road with well-known musician Mac Wiseman during the summer of 1953. It was Mac who encouraged him to complete his high school education. As a WPAQ Pioneer of Bluegrass music and founding member of the Merry Go Round, Wade generously gave of his time to share the early history of the station in the documentary Broadcast: A Man and His Dream. In 2010, he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, KY as a Pioneer of Bluegrass Music. Wade loved his family, his students, and his pets, many of which were rescues. The cats and dogs didn't know that they had landed into the lap of luxury until they arrived at his home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the International Bluegrass Music Museum, 117 Daviess St., Owensboro KY 42303; Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103; Alzheimer's Association, Western Carolina Chapter, 4600 Park Road, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC, 28209; or the charity of your choice.

Burial

Visitation

Funeral Service