Rev. Joseph Alfred Wade Sr.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers a donation in the name of Reverend Wade be made to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

Reverend Wade or Alfred as his friends knew him was born on July 15, 1927 in Port Limon, Costa Rica to Ishmael Wade and Matilda Vernon. He came to know the Lord at a very early age and his service to the church began as a teenager as an altar boy in his local hometown church. He was ordained by the Episcopal Church into the priesthood in September 1954. His service began in Central America as the Rector of St. Mary and the Associate Missions Minister for several new and growing parishes in Siguirres, Costa Rica. On December 27, 1962 he married Norma Eileen Bynoe, in Port Limon. However in 1964 they left Costa Rica for New York City where they raised two sons Joseph Jr. and David Vernon.

In 1964, Alfred began his ministry in the U.S. as the Assistant Rector for St Anne’s Church in the Bronx, NY. In 1967, he became the Rector of Grace Church in the West Farms section of the Bronx. In 1978, he became the Assistant Chaplin at St. Luke’s Hospital in New York, while continuing to pastor Grace Church part time. In 1982 he left Grace Church to pursue chaplaincy full time and in 1985 he left St. Luke’s for Interfaith Hospital in Brooklyn NY as their Sr. Chaplin. In 1993 he retired from the chaplaincy moved to Hampton VA where he provided part time support as a supply priest for various churches in the Hampton Mews area.

Alfred is survived by his two sons Joseph Alfred Wade Jr. of Missouri City, TX and David Vernon Wade of Brooklyn, NY and his former wife Norma, his two granddaughters, Sadira of New York, NY and Mikaylah of Missouri City, TX; his two brothers Stanley of Port Limon, CR his wife Norma and Harold of the Bronx, NY and his wife Herminia and several nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews