Dr. Wade Prichard Huie, Jr. of Atlanta graduated from Emory University where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order, Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa. While a student there, he became Associate Pastor for Youth at Peachtree Presbyterian Church where he was known as the Pied Piper for his successful ministry, and for creating the still popular Camp Rutledge retreat. After graduating from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, he earned a Ph.D at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, serving as Assistant Pastor of Canongate Kirk. Further studies took him to Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, Princeton Theological Seminary, Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA, and Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA. For eight years Dr. Huie was Pastor of Vineville Presbyterian Church in Macon. He returned to Columbia Presbyterian Seminary as the Peter Marshall Professor of Homiletics where he delighted in teaching preaching and worship, the "Good News" of the Christian faith, for 34 years, and 11 years part-time. An early advocate of international mission, he used sabbaticals to teach at seminaries in Accra, Ghana, and Seoul, Korea. Lecturing and preaching invitations also took him to Japan, Taiwan and Russia. His 26 trips taking students to Jamaica led to The Alternative Context experience at Columbia Seminary, in which future ministers are exposed to the church in multiple cultures. An avid traveler for career or vacation, he visited all 50 states and every continent save for Antarctica. Dr. Huie's ministry to children and young people was unfailingly enthusiastic. For 25 years he was guest chaplain at Athens Y Camp, a memory so valued that he wore Athens Y tee shirts for the rest of his life. And he was extremely proud of his involvement with Our House, a daycare/school for homeless children in Decatur. His dedication to the Presbyterian church led to participation in the General Assembly; the Ordination Committee, General Council, Permanent Theological Committee, and as Chairman on the Academy of Homiletics. In 2004 Dr. Huie was honored by the establishment of the Wade P. Huie, Jr. Chair of Homiletics at Columbia Seminary, which he accepted with the deep sense of gratitude so inherent to his nature. The following year he was named Outstanding Alumnus. He also received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Presbyterian College. Dr. Huie celebrated his family with joyful love, commitment and pride. He is predeceased by his wife of 40 years, Verna Lee Hardy; their infant son, Mark; their grandson, Ryan Huie, of Franklin, TN. His wife Emily Williams Huie survives him along with his sons and wives; Wade III and Sarma, Los Angeles, CA; John and Dawn, Franklin, TN; David and Miriam, Merritt Island , FL; and Scott, Snellville. His grandchildren are Jason, David, William, Nicole, Jessica, Madison and Jackson Huie.
Published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution June 2, 2015