Anita Ware

Anita Kay Ware’s life journey began on September 16th, 1944 in Clarksburg, West Virginia, when she became the youngest of 4 children of Victor and Stella Ashcraft. Kay grew up on a rural farm in those idyllic hills of West Virginia, a true coal miner’s daughter, with her parents and siblings. Kay graduated from Unidis High School in 1962. She later met Richard Lewis Ware, a United States Postal Worker. The young couple fell in love and were married July 21, 1962.

Kay’s life changed dramatically after marrying Richard. Richard rejoined the military and soon they began a life in service to our country. Kay moved with Richard to Ft. Benning, Georgia, where she gave birth to their first daughter, Stella. By the next year Kay was leaving all she had ever known and was traveling by ocean liner across the pacific to begin a 4-year tour at Camp Zama, Japan. During their serving in Japan, Kay delivered their second daughter, Clarissa. At the end of their time overseas, the family again boarded the President Cleveland and began the journey back to the USA.

Kay’s next home would be at Fort Stewart, in Savannah, Georgia. Richard was soon called to duty in Vietnam but not before Kay and the girls were settled in Grafton, WV, near family. As with most military families the moves continued to Carlisle Barricks, Pennsylvania and Tehran, Iran, as Richard’s career progressed. Tours of duty, in places like Vietnam and Iran, required Kay to be resourceful and resilient as she became; in essence, a single parent, working both inside and out of the home for years at a time. Eventually, Richard and Kay moved the family to serve at Ft. Gordon, in Augusta, Georgia, where they would finally settle and stay.

With the stability of being in one place for an extended time, Kay was able to become an active member of a church and through the years served her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and her community. Kay taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, served on committees and went on several mission trips to Destino del Reino, in Honduras and the Appalachia Mountains. She used the talents and skills she developed over the years as a military wife and Mother to cook, sew, paint, build and, in general, to just be a “Mary Poppins” in whatever way was needed at any given time and place. Kay was an active member of Belair Church.

Kay enjoyed spending time with her friends and family and was always ready for the next adventure. She went for helicopter rides, water skied, parasailed, zip lined, canoed, tubed, kayaked and camped. There wasn’t much she wouldn’t try. If you needed a trip buddy, most times, Kay was your Girl. Kay gardened and loved flowers. She was crafty with a capital C. If there was a new craft or technique, something new on Pinterest and it interested her more than likely she’d try it. Her “can do” attitude and self-assurance meant not much would fall out of her wheelhouse. She loved to sew clothes and adored quilting. She was a proud member of the “Pieceful” Hearts Quilt Guild. Additionally, she made stained glass, jewelry, wood, pottery projects, and acrylic paintings. Not only did Kay enjoy doing all these things but she loved teaching them to others and would often be seen with her Great Grandkids up to their elbows in paint or glue.

Kay became a Mother-in-Law, a Grandma, Great-Grandma, and Great-Great-Grandma as the years continued. She was devoted to her family and friends and loved them all fiercely.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Richard.

Her survivors include her daughters, Stella “Candy” (David) Dorn of Appling, Ga and Clarissa “Clare” (Mark) Cook of Grovetown, GA, her Grandchildren: Jessica Moritz, Jacob (Lacey) Dorn, Megan Whittaker, Allen Cook Jr., Julie (Brandon) Strong. Her Great-Grandchildren Alexandrea & Jody Moritz Jr., Carter & Kelsey Dorn, Mason Whittaker, Jordan, Jaelen & Jeremy Hammond, Preston, Jordan & Isabella Strong and Dominique (Jerry Lee) Cooke. Survivors also included Great-Great-Grandchildren; Jerry Lee III, Juniper, Jenesis, Jovonni, Ja’Lea and Jamillia Helphenstine; her sister, Sandra Romeo of Fort Mill, SC and several nieces and nephews.

A visitation for Anita will be held Friday, May 23, 2025 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Elliott Sons Funeral Home, 4255 Columbia Rd, Martinez, Georgia 30907. A funeral service will occur Friday, May 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM, 4255 Columbia Rd, Martinez, Georgia 30907 with Pastor David Brooks officiating. An interment will occur Friday, May 23, 2025 at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 2700 Deans Bridge Road, Augusta, Georgia 30906. The Pallbearers will be David Dorn, Mark Cook, Jacob Dorn, Allen Cook, Shawn Ware and Brandon Strong. In Lieu of Flowers, donations may be made to Destino del Reino, PO Box 814 Evans, GA 30809.