Rev. John Wesley Greenwade, 101 years old, passed away on January 18, 2026, in Lexington, Kentucky.
He was born on June 12, 1924, in Hopkinsville, Ky, to the late Willie and Alberta Wilson Greenwade. At the age of 7, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and joined First Street Missionary Baptist Church. In 2019, he relocated from Los Angeles, CA, back to Hopkinsville and joined Little River Baptist Church.
In 1941, at the age of 17, while attending Attucks High School, he joined the military and served in the Navy, Army Air Corp and the Army 82nd Airborne Division, where he was a proud paratrooper. During WWII, he served two tours in the South Pacific. After his military service, he moved to Terre Haute, IN, and accepted his call into the ministry at
the Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. He later relocated to Los Angeles, CA, where he remained until moving back to Kentucky.
He retired from Long Beach Navy Shipyard and the Los Angeles County Government.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his stepfather, Oscar Brim, his first wife, Minnie Smith Greenwade, his second wife, Marjorie Parron Greenwade, his children, John Wesley Greenwade Jr., Glenda Poindexter, Phyllis Nelson, Nell Edison, Ricky Joseph Greenwade, his siblings, Jimbo Greenwade, Fred C. Greenwade, Sr., Sam Brim, Emma Brim Lunsford, Josephine Greenwade Smith, Elnora Greenwade, and Willie Mae Greenwade.
He is survived by his children, BettyJo Servance, Deborah Harris, Michael (Audrey)Greenwade, Derrick(Evelyn)Greenwade, Saunder Greenwade, Zena(Eric)Tyler, Keilani Greenwade, Goddaughter, Leilani Blake-Drain, daughter-in-law, Letricia Greenwade, stepdaughter, Tina(Robert)Brown. Devoted niece, Greta Greenwade Jones, and a host of grand great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other close relatives.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 5, 2026, at First Street Missionary Baptist Church, with burial to follow at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West.
Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m.
Adams and Sons Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.
