Jo Ellen Gerschefski Wade

Jo Ellen Gerschefski Wade, 91, of Candler passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family.

Jo Ellen had the good fortune to be born into a wild, wonderful family of classical musicians, the oldest of 5 children. She adored her loving wife, her two sons of whom she is enormously proud and their families, and her siblings.

Jo Ellen was a lifelong activist for the Democratic Party and Civil Rights. She was on the campaign committee in Florence, SC, for the election of John F. Kennedy, and organized 3 precincts in Mecklenburg County, NC; integrated the precinct committees of all 3.

Jo Ellen worked for integration of the public schools in Mecklenburg County, NC, in the 1970s. She was one of the four founders of The Westside Group, a community activist organization promoting equal services and amenities for the Westside of Charlotte, NC, in the 1970s.

Jo Ellen served as Board member and President of the West Boulevard Enterprise Community (Charlotte, NC) established by the Clinton Administration. She worked for 25 years at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC. And served a year as President of the Faculty Senate. Jo Ellen even won Support Person of the Year one year.

Jo Ellen served as a volunteer for Mountain Area Information Network, a non-profit which provided dial-up Internet services for Western North Carolina rural areas. She then went on to win Volunteer of the Year award the 2nd year it was offered.

Jo Ellen served for eight years on the steering committee of the Western North Carolina Alliance, environmental activist organization which became WNC’s Mountain True.

Jo Ellen is survived by her wife, Carol Diamond of Candler, her sister, Martha Gerschefski (Clint Schaum) of Inman,S.C. her brother, John Gerschefski (Jean) of Orrs Island, Maine, her son, Ross Wade (Carla) of Gastonia, N.C., and their daughters Carmen Wade (Brent Swallow) of Durham, N.C. and Misty Wade (son Phillip Wade) of Gastonia, N.C., her son Scott Wade of Farmville, N.C. (Heather Wells), Scott’s daughters Jordan Wade and Courtney Wade  of Lexington, Kentucky , and his son, Michael Wade of Versailles, Kentucky.

Jo Ellen will be truly missed by all who knew her.

A Time of Reflection About Jo will be at 2:00 on January 17, 2026 at First Christian Church Disciples of Christ located at 470 Enka Lake Road, Candler, NC 28715. 

Wells funeral Home of Candler is honored to be serving Jo Ellen Gerschefski Wade's family.