Jimmy Attlee Wade

Jimmy Attlee Wade, 76, longtime resident of Apopka, Florida passed away on January 16, 2025. Mr. Wade was born on August 13, 1948 in Orlando, Florida to the late Attley and Georgia Wade. Mr. Wade is preceded in death by his loving wife Carolyn Wade; grandson Jimmy Attlee Wade III; as well as one brother and two sisters. He is survived by his children Jimmy (Stephanie) Attlee Wade II and Cheryl (Bill) Lynn Kirkland; grandchildren Jaylen Rae, Makayla Lynn, Alexis Ann, Samuel Luke and Michael Lee; niece Voni Fields; nephew Walter Money; as well as great niece Tiffani Money. Mr. Wade will be laid to rest on January 23, 2025 at Edgewood Greenwood Cemetery. He will be dearly missed by his many loved ones and friends. 

Today we are gathered to honor and celebrate the life of Jimmy Attlee Wade — a beloved husband, grandpa, uncle, father, and friend. Throughout this tribute, you may hear Jimmy affectionately referred to as one of his many other names: Grandpa, Uncle Jim, Pop Pop, Big Jimmy, or Daddy. And his wife, Carolyn Wade, who preceded him in death, called him Daddy Rabbit.

The story of Jimmy Attlee Wade is the story of an amazing, compassionate, strong, and faithful family man.

Jimmy was a loving husband to his wife Carolyn; a dedicated father to his two children, Cheryl Lynn and Jim; and a doting grandfather to his grandchildren Jaylen, Attlee, Makayla, Alexis, Samuel, and Michael.

Jimmy, now reunited with Carolyn in Heaven, was a wonderful husband to her on earth. Yes, they'd have their squabbles from time to time, but he was always there for her. To him, she hung the moon. Some of their favorite memories together were spent traveling on cruises and eating good food, along with time spent as a family with their two children.

Experiences mattered to Jimmy. As such, he had no regrets about doing things with (and for) the people that he loved.

Cheryl and Jim recall fond childhood memories of helping Daddy around the yard. Jimmy was a hardworking man and he instilled those values in his children by living as an example, but he also had an eye for fun.

Cheryl recounts water hose fights during hot summer days full of laughter. That would be the only time anyone would catch Jimmy Wade wearing shorts.

Jimmy also taught his children how to fish, which requires patience, and he practiced patience every day with his rambunctious family. One time when Cheryl was still a girl, Jimmy took her shad fishing and she nearly flipped the boat. He was irritated alright, but he surely loved his daughter and his son.

"My one wish for the world," Jim says, "would be that every kid should be so lucky as to have a dad as great as mine."

As his children grew, Jimmy made sure he prepared them for life, including the practical. As an adult, Cheryl recalls her daddy teaching her how to remove a tire from her horse trailer when the rims needed working on. "Here's how you do it," he told her demonstrating how to take a tire off and on with great patience "now do the other three yourself."

Jimmy ensured that his children would be self-sufficient, but, as a grandfather, he was known to spoil.

He is now reunited with his grandson, Attlee, whom he helped take care of and loved and missed dearly. Baby Attlee was named after Big Jimmy and was officially Jimmy Attlee Wade, the third.

During his precious time here on earth, Attlee was the pride and joy of everyone and was fondly referred to as "J" for Tiny Jim.

Cheryl recalls how wonderful Jimmy was with her three children. In 2011, her eldest, Makayla Lynn was born. From day one, Grandpa was amazing. He loved playing monster with Makayla and even dressed her a couple of times with varying results! One time, he couldn't wrap his head around why little Makayla was walking so funny in her onesie. "Cheryl," he exclaimed, "why is she walking like that? It doesn't fit her!" Only to realize that he'd put both of that baby's feet through the same hole.

He also used to play doctor with her. Makayla is now thirteen, and, if Grandpa was here on earth today, he wouldn't hesitate to sit down and play doctor again. It was the same with all of his grandchildren.

Jimmy was a man's man, but he would always accept a babydoll given to him by his little Alexis Ann. As everyone knows, she's a cuddler, and grandpa always obliged. With Samuel Luke, Jimmy was on his toes, ready to play— and to teach his lively, spirited grandson how to listen just a little bit better.

Makayla, Alexis, and Samuel eagerly looked forward to Grandpa's visits, as about once a week he would bring them SpaghettiOs's and Vienna sausages as a treat. Sometimes he'd even give it to them when their momma said no!

For the past eight years, Jimmy's world was Michael Lee, whom he helped raise and loved endlessly as his Pop Pop. He would let Michael take out every DVD in the house and throw them on the floor. He'd play box-tower, and peekaboo, and videocall with finger puppets, too.

As many can recall, Pop Pop used to let Michael play with his cellphone and that boy was known to call everyone in the family. One never knew, when they answered the phone, if it was going to be Jimmy or Michael that they were speaking to.

Another way Big Jimmy showed up for his family and friends was as a problem solver. Not easy problems. Big problems-like stopped up toilets, flooded houses, or giant fallen oak trees. Throughout all of it, Jimmy kept a calm-head and patiently worked every angle until he found a solution. And no one else was better with their hands.

"He loved helping people," Cheryl says. "He would be there in a second. He was always there."

As a man of faith, Jimmy loved the Lord and knew he was going to be with Jesus. He also appreciated a good meal. After church on Sundays, you could often find him at Golden Corral eating with his grandchildren. He really enjoyed seafood, too. So if there's a Red Lobster in Heaven, Big Jimmy is certainly there.

One common thread that bond people to Jimmy was fishing.

Jimmy was an avid fisherman who took many of you on your first fishing excursion and taught you to love fishing. Have you ever wondered what it was about fishing with Jimmy that was so special?

Perhaps there are lessons from those countless trips that will help you journey on with peace and purpose.

 PRIORITIES- I'm sure that Uncle Jim or Pop had things that he needed to do, but he made time for what really mattered spending time with family and teaching others what he knew. PATIENCE- No one had more patience than Jimmy. There was nothing that upset him on the water. There was no tangled line or snag that he couldn't work through. WEATHERING THE STORM- Some of the best fishing happens during inclement weather.

Jimmy wasn't afraid of the rain and wind that threatened to rock the boat. He understood that going through the storm is unavoidable.

 HOPES AND DREAMS- You can't be a fisherman without the belief that somewhere in that murky water there lies a big, unseen fish with your name on it. THE JOURNEY- While Jimmy never lost sight of catching "the big one," he also understood that the catch, alone, didn't mean a whole lot of anything. It was the fisherman's process - the journey of baiting the hook and casting the line...of waiting, reeling, losing, and casting again that made the final outcome (the big catch) all the more meaningful

Although Jimmy is no longer with us, his legacy will live on through each of you.

He will be remembered as a man of few words but an abundance of heart.

When you leave this place today, do as Jimmy did. Show up for the people that you love, keep the faith, and live your life like a fisherman.