Julius Jennings Wade III

Following a long and courageous battle with cancer, Julius Jennings “Jay” Wade III died peacefully, surrounded by family September 11, 2026. Jay was born January 29, 1957 in Charlotte to the late Sara Caldwell Hunter Wade and the late Julius Jennings “Jake” Wade, Jr. 

Growing up in “old” Charlotte, most of Jay’s early years were consumed by his athletic desires. Like most Wades, he tried every sport with a ball and found his high school talents at Myers Park High lay in football, where he led the team as a stand-out middle linebacker, co-captain, most valuable defensive player, and all-county selectee. His love of sports called him to coach youth soccer, baseball, and basketball. 

Jay graduated Davidson College in 1979, but his college buddies joked he never spent much time at Davidson while in school (especially weekends) because he was off dating Cary at East Carolina University. After they married, Jay and Cary settled down in Davidson, where Jay became a long-time fixture in the Davidson community and a dedicated alumni and supporter of Davidson College. Jay and Cary also owned and ran the local Davidson Soda Shop for many years.Jay began his career in Charlotte in 1979 with one of Charlotte’s leading property and casualty insurance agencies. In 1992, Jay founded JJ Wade & Associates Insurance Agency in downtown Davidson which he built into a thriving business with offices in Davidson, Wilmington, New Bern, and Raleigh. Jay sold his company to HUB International in 2024.Jay made friends easily and kept in touch with old friends like clockwork. 

He was a man of few words, but more often than not, they were kind words. Jay often performed kindnesses for others without taking credit, and while he could sometimes be stubborn, that trait served him well as he stubbornly built a successful business in a competitive environment, stubbornly supported Davidson athletics no matter the score, and stubbornly fought cancer for five years without complaint. If you asked Jay how he was holding up during his treatments, he would say he was fine and ask about you or your family, not wanting to draw attention to himself. Jay felt most at home with Cary, wherever they were, but if home were an island, nothing could compete with Wrightsville Beach. He never missed a chance to be near that clear blue-green water. Jay will be remembered by those who knew him best by his smile, his laugh, and his kind nature. 

Jay is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Cary Page Wade; his son, Julius Jennings “Jake” Wade, IV; his precious grandchildren Henry and Lennon; his sister, Amelia Ann Wade; his daughter, Abbey Wade; and his many cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Jimmy.

The family is grateful for the kind and loving care of The Levine & Dickson Hospice House-Huntersville and the medical professionals at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute in Concord, and in particular, Jay’s dedicated oncologist, Dr. Raghava Induru.

 A memorial service is in the works and the time and place will be announced soon.