Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
In a city that thrives on volunteers, few names are as synonymous with service as Rosalee Wade. The 86-year-old community leader, known for her ever-present smile and boundless energy, is the first to be featured in a new series spotlighting local difference-makers.
Born Jan. 24, 1940, in Checotah, Wade grew up in Oklahoma before moving to California and later traveling the country for work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Her career took her to Long Beach, Mississippi, and San Antonio, Texas, where she met her husband, Jim Wade. The couple later lived in Wichita, Kansas, and Indiana, retiring before settling in Millbrook in 2001 to be near her sister.
No matter what the zip codes were, service followed.
Throughout their 45-year marriage, Wade and her late husband volunteered in every community they called home. In Millbrook, their impact is woven into the city’s traditions. In 2004, the couple founded the Millbrook Revelers, a Mardi Gras organization that began with 11 members and has since grown to 75. They were crowned the group’s first king and queen in 2005.
In 2006, the Revelers hosted Millbrook’s first Mardi Gras parade, drawing a crowd of 6,000. Jim Wade died in 2022, but his and Rosalee’s shared love of public events, fundraising, and fellowship lives on.
“I like being in the Millbrook Revelers, because I like to see people happy,” Wade said. “Especially the little kids. It makes me joyful and keeps me young.”
Her commitment to service extends well beyond Mardi Gras. Wade volunteered at the Millbrook Area Chamber of Commerce from 2002 to 2012 and returned in December 2023 to lend a hand when needed. She has also supported the Alabama Wildlife Federation and remains active with the Red Hat Ladies, the Millbrook Garden Club, and the Millbrook Civitans. She serves on the city’s Planning and Zoning Committee and is active at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Prattville, where she sits on three committees.
For Wade, staying busy is a calling.
“I enjoy being busy, and I am not a homebody person,” she said. “If God has told me to keep going, I am going, and I keep on dancing.”
Faith anchors her outlook. Whether encouraging a stranger to smile at the grocery store or comforting someone having a hard day, Wade said she tries to lead with love.
“When I see sad people, I just want to make them smile and feel my love,” she said.
Friends describe her as resilient. Though she admits to private moments of sadness since losing her husband two and a half years ago, she continues to show up for others. A 25-year breast cancer survivor, Wade said her health journey strengthened her resolve to live fully.
“It makes me want to keep enjoying life and fulfill it as long as I can,” she said. “I live in the moment.”
Wade and her husband shared a love of travel, taking 24 cruises together, where they enjoyed dancing and spending time with friends. Today, she says the friendships she has built in Millbrook sustain her.
“I have a lot of friends supporting me,” she said. “Even now, with me being alone, I am always part of their family.”
Wade’s love for Millbrook runs deep, and she hopes to see even greater community involvement in the years ahead. More volunteers, especially younger residents, are needed to sustain local clubs and civic groups, she said.
“I love Millbrook, and I am glad I am here,” Wade said. “This is why I do what I do, because I love supporting my town.”
As Millbrook looks to the future, Wade hopes her example encourages others to step forward, lend a hand, and find joy in serving. Her advice is simple and heartfelt:
“Do not worry. Keep prayers in your life with God and enjoy life. Keep on smiling. Keep on partying and keep on dancing.”
