Verlee Ward, 95, was born in Fulton County AR, near Mammoth Spring, AR, February 24, 1929, to Thomas and Moda Garner Wood. She stepped into the presence of her Lord and Savior on January 7, 2025. She was a committed wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend and mentor and a follower of Christ.
After working for Bell Telephone Company during WWII in Tulsa, Oklahoma she returned home before her impending transfer to St. Louis, Missouri. Verlee embarked on a brief courtship which became a loving 68-year marriage. The couple moved to Memphis for employment opportunities shortly after the birth of their first child.
With a servant’s heart and no expectation of recognition, she blessed so many people during her 70 years of service in her church. Some 30 years ago, in the infancy of Faith Baptist Church, she created a ministry to support families experiencing the loss of loved ones. That ministry remains active today as a testament of the love of Christ for His church in all seasons of life.
She was preceded in death by her husband and the love of her life, Fred William Ward, as well as her beloved siblings Lottie Johnson, Ernest Wood, Truman Wood, Andrew Wood, Ruth Lynott, and Ed Wood.
Those who remain to cherish her memory are her daughter Donna Ward Durand, and her son Steve Ward (Janet), her grandchildren, whom she adored, Cynthia Dempsey (Greg), Chris Kellum (Nicole), Andrea Ward, and Wes Ward (Amy). Her great-grandchildren whom she loved so much, Max Hammond (Emma), Isabel Dempsey, Lily Hammond, Molly Ward, Kate Ward, Abbie Ward. Her many nieces and nephews and cousins, no matter the generation, were dear to her, and she saw them often through the years creating so many precious memories. She was also blessed to have a wonderful circle of long-standing friends whose love and support were cherished especially after Fred’s passing.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Family Funeral Meals Ministry or Faith Builders Ministry, Faith Baptist Church, 3755 Germantown Road, Bartlett, TN 38133.
