OXFORD — Emmie Ellen “Dem” Wade, 98, of Oxford, died peacefully at the home of her niece Sara Bounds Phillips on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015. A graveside service at Saint Peter’s Cemetery will be held Monday at 2 p.m. Waller Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, the family returned to Oxford where she attended Oxford Elementary School, University High School (Class of 1934), and Belhaven College in Jackson. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from the University of Mississippi, followed by doctoral work in history at Tulane University in New Orleans.

During World War II, she was commissioned in the Coast Guard, which became a part of the Naval Service, and served in Washington, D.C., and London, England. She was promoted to the rank of Lt J.G. prior to transfer to the Inactive Reserve and Honorable Discharge. After WWII, she taught returning veterans through Continuing Studies at Ole Miss. She taught history and was Chair of the History Department at Northwest Jr. College in Senatobia. At Northwest, she was sponsor of the Jr. College Honors Society, Phi Theta Kappa, and maintained a membership in good standing of The National Historical Society. Upon retirement from Northwest in 1979, she traveled to many interesting overseas sights. She was the oldest living member of the First Presbyterian Church of Oxford before her death.

She is survived by nephews: Thomas D. Bounds Jr. of Charlotte, North Carolina; John Wade Bounds, James W. Bounds and Richard Doty, all of Oxford; John Webster Wade of Nashville, Tennessee; William J. Wade of Flagstaff, Arizona; nieces: Sara Elizabeth Bounds Phillips of Oxford; Anne Doty of Pelham, Alabama; Mary Wade Shanks of Atlanta, Georgia; Ruthie Wade Grant of Richmond, Virginia; and her cousin, Wade Paul Webster of Houston, Texas. She is also survived by eight grandnephews, seven grandnieces, eight great-grandnephews, eight great-grandnieces, and one great-great-grandnephew.

Along with her parents, she was preceded by her brother, John Webster Wade, sisters Elizabeth Wade Bounds and Martha Wade Doty, and her grandnephew, William D. Trahan Jr.

For additional information or to sign an online guestbook, visit www.wallerfuneralhome.com or call 662-234-7971.