Nell Wade Martin Shears' Obituary
Obituary – Nell Wade Martin Shears
Opal Bernell Davis (Nell) was born in Ripley, Mississippi on January 2, 1930, to James O. and Eva Shelton Davis. She moved with her family to Memphis, Tennessee when her father took a job as an engineer for Humko. She attended Tech High School and upon graduation worked as a paralegal in a local attorney’s office. After a few years she obtained employment at Dun and Bradstreet where she worked in the commercial collections division. It was there that she met her future husband William D. Wade (Bill), who moved from Corinth, Mississippi to work in the sales division of Dun and Bradstreet.
Bill and Nell had two sons, Ron, and Jim, and enjoyed an active life of sports, church, vacations, and family gatherings. Much of their time was spent with their extended families of siblings, nieces and nephews, church functions and the boys’ activities.
Nell worked for the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department providing testing in the public-school systems for 15 years while the boys were at school during the day. Once they were home, Nell became the mother that she loved to be. After Jim was in high school, she obtained her real estate license and began a 40 plus year career as a sales agent, broker and owner of various real estate companies. She served on the state and local realtor boards in a variety of capacities. She was inducted as a Lifetime Member of the Real Estate Million Dollar Sales Club.
At the death of Bill, after a 33-year marriage, she met and married Claude Martin, who was also in Real Estate. After another 33-year marriage and the death of Claude, she met and married Robert Shears (Bob) at the age of 90. They had a wonderful life at Kirby Pines Retirement community hosting various dinners and parties with friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James O. Davis, her sister Norma Stacks Adkins, her husbands Bill Wade and Claude Martin, and her son James A. Wade (Jim). She leaves her husband Bob Shears, her son Ron Wade (Christy), her daughters-in-law Michele Wade Parrish and Debra Elliot Wade, her grandchildren Daniel Wade (Erica), Anna Bohnett (Jeremy) and Logan Wade and her great grandchildren Truitt Wade, Sutton Wade, Trace Wade, Brennan Bohnett and Beckett Bohnett.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held Sunday January 8th at 2:00pm at Highland Church of Christ 400 N Houston Levee Rd. Cordova, TN 38018
In lieu of flowers she would be honored for your support of HopeWorks or a charity of your choice,"
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