Daisy Harris Wade Papers

Daisy Griffin Harris Wade has spent much of her adult life in efforts designed to secure the civil rights of local African American citizens. She was particularly active in the local civil rights movement between 1963 and 1968. In January 1964, she housed four white ministers who were in Hattiesburg in connection with a voter registration project. During Mississippi Freedom Summer (1964), she opened her home to two Freedom Summer volunteers. Though retired, Mrs. Wade continues to be active in the area of civil rights. Most recently, she has participated in panel discussions at The University of Southern Mississippi, designed to communicate the history of the local civil rights movement to the present generation.

Mrs. Wade was born on April 22, 1931, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, the fifth of eleven children born to Joseph and Annie B. Griffin. Her father was employed by Hercules Powder Company. He retired in 1967 after 41 years of service. Daisy Griffin married her first husband, James Harris, on April 7, 1951, and three sons were born of the union – James, Jr., Anthony, and Harold (At this writing, Anthony [Dr. Anthony Harris] is serving as Executive Assistant to the President of The University of Southern Mississippi). Daisy Harris and her second husband, Willie Wade, were married on April 8, 1978. No children were born of the second marriage.

Mrs. Wade graduated from Eureka High School on June 4, 1949, and completed the Secretarial Cluster Course at Pearl River Junior College on November 7, 1975. Her work experiences include: 1) secretary/receptionist at WDAM-TV; 2) disc jockey and secretary at WORV Radio ; and 3) office work for the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). In addition, she served as secretary of the Forrest County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Forrest County Action Committee, and the Fifth District Loyalist Democratic Party; did volunteer work for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC); was active in the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP); and at one time, held a third class FCC radio license.

While employed at WORV Radio, Mrs. Wade was chosen Most Popular Disc Jockey, and since approximately 1975, her biography has appeared in Who’s Who Among African Americans. On June 23, 1991, Star Light Missionary Baptist Church held an Appreciation Service honoring Mrs. Wade for her work in the areas of civil rights and community service.

Additional honors and awards accorded Mrs. Wade are:

Vernon Dahmer Community Service Award, presented by the Hub City Business and Professional Men's Club (January 22, 1978).

Contributions to the Advancement of Civil and Human Rights, Certificate of Special Recognition, presented by the Mississippi Community Foundation (June 1994).

Long Distance Runner Award, presented by Forrest County Branch of NAACP, for 20 or more years of outstanding service (1996).

A Voice and A Vote, Freedom's Foundation Award, presented by the Hattiesburg Public School District (March 4, 1998).

Achievement Award, presented by the Mississippi Homemakers Volunteer, Inc., in cooperation with the Mississippi State University Extension Service.