Nelson Wade Culler peacefully and comfortably transitioned from this world at his home on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, after a long, determined, brave and uncomplaining battle with cancer. Wade was born to William Nelson Culler and Linda Hill Culler on June 15, 1964, at Riverside Hospital in Newport News, VA. He is survived by his partner of 36 years, Wayne Howard Stewart, Jr.; his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Neil and Lori Culler; his sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Chris Collins; and by adored nieces and nephews, Destiny and Anna Bates, Madisen, Zakerie, Allissa and William Collins, Elizabeth Seeburger and James Simmons. He loved them all so much. Wade graduated with honors from South Stokes High in 1982, and from Western Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree with majors in Spanish and French, and minors in German and English. He was a lover of books, especially comic books and those about languages and their development, as well as about gardening, history and cooking. His guacamole was unmatched, as was his intellectual curiosity, and he had a green thumb in gardening. He also enjoyed board games, and won every match, perhaps because he insisted on keeping score! His fluency in many languages helped while he and Howard traveled much of the world. If you knew Wade, you knew his sharp, dry wit, quick smile, easy laugh, and unassuming demeanor, and you already miss it. Even though he was working a full-time job at Clemson University in digital resource acquisition at the library, Wade was so generous with his time, talents and money, donating all to many non-profit local organizations. Over the years, he volunteered at the local equivalent of Meals on Wheels (often being the only person the recipients saw all day, so he sat and chatted with them, and comforted them), Board of Elections, the Pendleton Historical Society (where he served as a docent at Woodburn Plantation, providing the most comprehensive and interesting information about the long history of that important Up-Country plantation), and the Pendleton City Property Planning Commission, among many other acts of charity and civil service. For all of this and more, he was named Volunteer of the Year in 2015 for City Park in Pendleton, SC. Few have offered more civic service. This doesn’t mention all of his personal efforts to help and cherish his friends, and others’ lives. He was especially concerned with, and helpful with children around the world. There is a hole in our hearts that will remain forever, but within that, the love in his heart, a shining light will last forever in his memory, as he shined his light on our world. That light will be missed by all, but will shine forever. A celebration of his life will be at a later date.