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wade smith

10/30/2017

4 Comments

 
PictureWade Smith in 1957, the year he graduated from Methodist Orphanage.
Wade Smith was born near Enfield in Halifax County to “a poor, very poor” sharecropping family. He was the only one of six children in his family to complete high school, much less college, he says, because of Methodist Orphanage.

Wade was 10 years old in 1950 when his parents ended their 27-year marriage, and his mother and a county welfare worker arranged for him to go to Methodist Orphanage with his two younger sisters, Jean, 8, and Becky, 6.

​He lived seven years on the MO campus and learned the benefits of kindness, opportunity and hard work. “The orphanage taught you that nothing was free,” he says. “You had to work hard to get anything.”


The orphanage also taught him that people cared about him and wanted to help. House mother Mabel “Muh” Brown gave him the gentle and consistent encouragement he needed when he arrived, feeling homesick and afraid of what the future might hold. “God had to put her there for a reason,” he says. “She really got me through the early days.”

MO teacher Irma Holland and principal B.P. Hammack inspired him to do well in school, and his sponsor church, Ellerbe United Methodist in Richmond County, sent checks for his clothes, books and other necessities and hosted him for summer vacations.

There was opportunity for children at MO, and Wade recognized its potential to improve his life. By 1954, his mother had remarried and invited the children to come live with her. Becky and Jean accepted the offer, but Wade at the last moment decided to stay at MO. “I didn’t see a future going home,” he says. “I saw a future if I stayed and completed my high school education.”

Wade played football during his last two high school years, and he was manager for MO’s baseball and basketball teams. Graduating in 1957, he enrolled in Louisburg College with a loan from the orphanage and scholarships. After a year, he transferred to the University of Richmond, but dropped out after his father’s death in 1957. Two years later he returned to Louisburg and completed his associate degree, making ends meet by managing the school library at night. During this time he met his future wife, Nancy, on a blind date to hear the Lester Lanin Orchestra perform for the 175th anniversary of Louisburg College.

Wade moved south to attend N.C. State and graduated in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. While in Raleigh, he lived once again on the MO campus—this time earning room, board and a little cash by tutoring, coaching and driving the school bus to football games, the state fair and other outings. He and Nancy were married soon after graduation and moved to Chesterfield, Va., so that he could take a job with J.M. Fry Printing Inks Co. He stayed there for his entire career, retiring as a vice president after 36 years.

Today, Wade enjoys working in the yard and researching his family’s ancestry. He still puts in 10 to 12 hours a week at J.M. Fry and sometimes joins Nancy for a round of golf. The couple has three sons and three grandchildren, and they will celebrate 49 years of marriage in July.
​
Looking back, Wade says some years at MO were good and some were bad. “But without the orphanage I would never be where I am today. It was a great experience in life—I learned a lot and I came out on top.”--Peter MacBeth
Picture
Wade and Nancy Smith
4 Comments
Elizabeth Cole
7/13/2020 06:56:27 pm

My brother and I went to mh in 1965. He died while living there in 1972. He was 13 I was 12. Our mother was shot and killed 7 months earlier by our stepfather whom then took his own life dying a few minutes later. 1972 WAS THE WORST YEAR OF MY LIFE. I was finally allowed to leave after graduating from Broughton High in 1979. I am 60 years old and relive those years over and over.

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Johnathan Parker link
11/3/2022 09:29:22 pm

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Arizona Goth Scene link
11/13/2022 12:31:49 am

Hi, great reading your post

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Deb Fielden
3/10/2023 10:05:47 pm

My Dad and three brother were at the Orphanage in Richmond. Va.
They were sent there after their dad curtis kirby pSsed away 1942. Dad name Robert "Bobby" Kirby, 1/32( so he was 10 when he got to orphanage., Kenneth kirby 3/34 was 8, Jack Kirby was 6 and William was 4.
From story i heard they staybat orphanage during week went to near ny schools. But on weekenda and summer they work the farm out in New Kent. As my Dad git older he was sent to stay at "the Camp" cabin near the farm in New kent. He drove the old wooden bus from New Kent to Richmond.
My dad graduated from New Kent High school . and then enlisted into the army, whete he served during the Korean War. At one if the USO damces he met my Mom. Once home from started working for Baker Equipment and Engineering
in scott addition. Once my.Mom graduated from Mary Washington. In 1954. They Married. Mom schiol teacher abd Dad work at Baker equip. They lived in suburban apt. Had me in 1956 and in 1962 moved to West End Manor soon my brother was born. MOM stop teaching once my.brother was born. MOM passed awsy in 2004. Dad still with us he just turned 91.* Bobby and Billy are still witb other. KENNETH AND Jack have passed on.

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