Funeral services for Wade H. Creekmore, Jr., Tuesday

WADE H. CREEKMORE, JR.

Jan. 28, 1934-Nov. 28, 2025

A memorial service for Wade H. Creekmore, Jr., 91, will be at 11 a.m. on 
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025 from the Sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church of 
Jackson. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025 from 
Miller Hall at the church (please park in the Pinehurst lot) and again 
from 10 a.m. until time of service in the Greeting Courtyard of the 
church.

Born on Jan. 28, 1934, he was a telecommunications pioneer and 
co-founder of Cellular South, Inc., which now operates under the brand 
of C Spire. He was born and grew up in Jackson and was schooled at Power 
and Liberty Grove Elementary, Bailey Junior High and Central High School 
Class of 1952.

He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1956, enlisted in the 
United States Navy and became an officer before joining its Underwater 
Demolition Team, the predecessor to the Navy SEALs. His role as a 
frogman places him among the earliest combat divers in U.S. military 
history.

He resigned his commission in 1960 to become Manager and an Officer with 
Franklin Telephone Company in Franklin County. He remained and Officer 
and Director until his passing.

in 1964, Wade enrolled in the Ole Miss Law School and graduated in 1967. 
He, his wife Betsy and their daughters relocated to Meadville, where he 
practices law before moving permanently to Jackson.

Later, Wade and his brother, James H. Creekmore, Sr., — along with 
other family members — invested in wireless communications. Cellular 
South became one of the first wireless networks in the nation. In 2011, 
the company was rebranded as C Spire, reflecting its evolution into a 
full-service telecommunications and technology provider, of which the C 
Spire Foundation is a key part.

His visionary business achievements fail to reveal his full identity. 
Wade had a deep commitment to community enrichment. He founded the 
Southwest Mississippi Chess Foundation and the Franklin Chess Center 
based in Meadville, which provides high-level chess instruction for 
Franklin County students in grades 2-12 and has made a profound impact 
on young people in his beloved Franklin County. Its success has brought 
championships and national recognition.

Never one to rest, Wade once swam across the Mississippi River. He 
competed in road races, Senior Olympics and triathlons from his 40s into 
his 70s. He was inducted into the Ole Miss Alumni Hall of Fame and the 
Ole Miss Business School Hall of Fame. A stamp and memorabilia 
collector, his interests and activities were mutually expansive. In his 
later years, on family property in Warren County — with nothing but a 
shovel and stubborn commitment — he single-handedly planted several 
thousand oak trees to make the world better and more beautiful for 
future generations.

These accomplishments and activities fall short of describing his true 
nature. He was a deeply loved and respected husband and a gentle and 
caring rock of a father who had a watchful and unwavering, abiding love 
for his daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A 
good friend to man's best friend, every dog that Wade encountered fell 
for him immediately.

Often thought by many to be a quiet man, Wade might unexpectedly make 
his presence known with a rebel yell or a joking shot of "get naked!" He 
was a wise teacher whose class expanded across his many interests. He 
enjoyed sharing his reasoned point of view in a way that was equally 
edifying and entertaining.

While clearly a man among men throughout his life, Wade's selfless 
countenance displayed clear and steadfast expressions of love, joy, 
peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and 
self-control to all who knew him well. Though humbly unaware, he 
produced a bounty of such fruit not for his name, but to exalt the 
precious name of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Wade and his family 
have been dedicated members of Jackson's First Presbyterian Church for 
many years.

He died on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025 at home in the arms of the love of his 
life, wife and caretaker extraordinaire, Betsy.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Betsy Salisbury Creekmore; his 
brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Meredith Creekmore; his daughters 
and sons-in-law, Ashley and Hu Meena, Beth and Chip Pickering and Sidney 
and Holt Crews; his grandchildren and their respective spouses, Taylor 
and Matt Peaster, Betsy and Matthew Oellerich, Anny Clardy and Matthew 
Burrow, Vic Meena, Wade Meena, Lee Meena, Holt and Grace Crews, Jr., 
Elkin and Alexis Crews and Davis Crews; his great-grandchildren, Hamp 
Peaster, Rho Peaster, Harper Oellerich and Wells Oellerich; and his 
nieces and nephews and their respective spouses, Dolly and Wesley 
Goings, Hiram Creekmore, Betsy and Billy Blue and David and Scottie 
Neill.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wade and Mildred Creekmore; and 
by his great-granddaughter, Alice Elizabeth Peaster.

Special thanks are given to the caretakers who have been so faithful 
during his illness — Barbara Brooks, Rosie Jackson, Reynelle 
Cornelius, Ebony Cornelius, William Cornelius and Gerald Williams.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Jackson.

Parkway Funeral Home and Memorial Cemetery of Jackson is in charge of 
arrangements.