Ella Ward

Ella is survived by her son Don (Christie), daughter Bonita, grandchildren Amanda, Brittney, Brenton, Kalli, Hayleigh, William, great grandchildren Hayden and Giavanna, brother Rankin (Garnett). She is preceded in death by her parents Llyod and Louise Madden, her son Donny, and her nine siblings.

Ella was born on December 20th 1939 in Brewton, Alabama. She married William Ward in 1958.The couple moved to Florida and welcomed their first child, Donny in 1967. Grief struck the following year when Donny passed away at only 14 months old. Five years later their second son, Don was born in 1972, followed by a daughter, Bonita in 1974. Despite the marriage ending not long after, Ella’s resilience shined through as she successfully built a career and raised her beautiful children. She taught them faith, love, and strength which guided them to become successful in life.

Ella obtained her LPN license at Brewster Technical School in 1978 and went on to complete her Associate’s degree in Nursing from Hillsborough Community College in 1987. After obtaining her RN license, she worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital with a primary focus in cardiac care. After retiring from St. Joseph's in 1998, she began travel nursing around the United States. She made her final retirement in 2004. Two years later she found herself on the receiving end of healthcare when she became a liver transplant recipient in 2006.

Dedicated in her faith, Ella was an active member of the Christ the King Baptist Church in Plant City, Florida. In addition to her faith, she loved telling stories of her life and spending time with family. She loved to travel by all methods. Some destinations included Israel, Paris, London, Alaska, Honduras, and the Caribbean. When she wasn’t traveling or spending time with family/friends she could be found gardening or reading a book. She was best known for her feisty personality, kindness, and determination. She was truly loved by all and will be missed dearly.

A funeral is scheduled for July 25th 2025 with visitation beginning at 1pm, followed by a service at 2pm and concluding with a graveside service at 3pm at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home located at 2323 West Brandon Blvd, Brandon, Florida 33511. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Ella's life.