Willie E. Ward

Elder Willie Edward Ward, Sr. was born in Battlesboro, Edgecombe County, North Carolina on October 2, 1928 to the late Jeremiah and Hattie Ward. Elder Willie Edward Ward moved from his earthly home to heavenly home during the wee hours of July 14, 2012 after a lengthy illness. Elder Ward was the eldest son of thirteen children born to Jeremiah and Hattie Ward. He was preceded in death by his siblings, Albert Lee, Verna Mae, Jeremiah, Clarence and Cora. Elder Ward’s early education was in the North Carolina Public Schools. Elder Ward met and married his wife of sixty-three years, Marie Eleanor Staton on June 25, 1949. Of this union eleven children were born, Daniel, Virginia, Willie Jr., Sandra, Susie, Michael, Brenda (deceased), Anthony, Allen and Denise. He also raised a grandson, Darney and a great-grandson, Darnell. Elder Ward moved to Baltimore from North Carolina in December, 1959. He continued his education by attending and graduating from a course in Horticulture, offered by General Electric in Columbia, Maryland. In order to support his growing family, Elder Ward drove New Car Tractor Trailers via interstate for numerous years. In later years, Elder Ward worked for the Rouse Company, helping to renovate and beautify the Howard Street Pavilion and the Inner Harbor with his planting of trees and shrubbery. Elder Ward was a co-creator of the beautification of trees and shrubbery along state highways from Washington to Virginia and beyond. He was a hard-working man. In his last years, Elder Ward worked until his health began to fail him several months ago for the Carpenter Construction Company. Elder Ward, after studying under Pastor George Johnson, was ordained an Elder in the Church. Elder Ward was diligent in his ministry and searching for the Truth. He had a good voice and would often sing and hum out many of the Old Negro Spirituals. He was a faithful member of New Horizons Church. Elder Ward loved children. He often entertained them, by asking them to recite the alphabet backwards from “Z to A”. He’d get a big chuckle when they couldn’t do it. He always said, “My Granddaddy taught me a trick on how to do it.” Sadly, Elder Ward never shared that secret with any of us. Elder Ward enjoyed many things in life, but what he enjoyed most was being with his family. He especially enjoyed the Annual Ward Family Reunions. He loved getting together with his nieces and nephews, always serving as the Captain of the Family Reunion Softball Team. Elder Ward would give you the shirt from his back, if you needed it. He will be sorely missed by his friends and family, especially the children of the family. Elder Ward spent his last days with his wife nearby him and members of his family, especially a great-niece, Brittany who stood by him to the end. Elder Willie Edward Ward, Sr. leaves to cherish his memory: his loving wife, Marie Eleanor Ward; sons, Daniel, Willie Jr., Michael, Anthony (Chris) and Allen (Tangier); daughters, Virginia Myers (Richard), Sandra Ward, Susie Johnson (Larry), Denise Ward and Bay-Bay; sisters, Stella Arrington (Warren) and Louise Stranton (Joe); thirty grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren; three godchildren, Earl Artis, Barbara Diggs, and Anita Brewer; two sisters-in-law, Dorothea Williams (Otis) and Rose Ward (Clarence, deceased); nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Willie E. Ward

October 2, 1928 - July 14, 2012