Shirley Tison Ward

Shirley Tison Ward died peacefully in her sleep at Southminster Retirement Community on September 5, 2011 after a short illness. Shirley was born Shirley Jean Tison on February 3, 1927 in Charlotte to Bryte Washam and Benjamin Thompson Tison Jr. She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved brother, Benjamin Thompson Tison III.

Shirley was educated in Charlotte public schools, graduating in 1945 from Central High School. She began her collegiate career at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia. After her freshman year, Shirley returned to Charlotte to attend Queens College, graduating in 1949. Her college activities included membership in Alpha Delta Pi sorority, President of the Day Student Council, editor of the student newspaper, member of May Court, member of the Honor Council, elected member of Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities and Alpha Kappa Gamma regional honorary leadership fraternity.

On September 17, 1949, Shirley married fellow Charlottean and 1949 UNC-Chapel Hill graduate Marion “Moe" Ward, concluding a nearly four year courtship that began with a blind date on Christmas Day in 1945. After their honeymoon, the young couple moved to Atlanta to begin Moe's career with The Travelers Insurance Company. It wasn’t long before The Korean War intervened and Moe, a three year Army Air Force veteran of World War II, was recalled to active duty. Moe’s military career continued for 23 more years, culminating in his retiring as a regular Air Force Colonel in 1973. During Moe’s career, Shirley was equally engaged and active in base and community affairs at all of their stations. Some of her many achievements included serving as President of the Officers Wives Clubs at Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska and Eighth Air Force Headquarters in Springfield, Massachusetts. Shirley was also an initial member of the Board of Air Force Village. Upon Moe's retirement, Shirley received a commendation from Air Force Chief of Staff General Jack Ryan for her contribution to the United States Air Force.

She and Moe returned to Charlotte in June 1973, following their retirement from the Air Force. Shirley became immediately involved with community service. She served on the boards of the Symphony Women's Association, Friends of The Mint, Mint Museum Auxiliary, The Collectors’ Circle, Myers Park Homeowners Association and Queens College Alumnae Board. She was an organizer of the Antique Study Group and a member of the Plot Luck Garden Club. Her home was included on the Mint Museum Home and Garden Tour and the Wing Haven Garden Tour. She was a longtime member of Covenant Presbyterian Church and recent member of First Presbyterian Church.

In addition to her community service efforts, Shirley was a dedicated wife, mother and daughter. From the time of her daughter Tison’s arrival in 1966, Shirley was a committed mother who doted on her daughter and impacted the lives of many of Tison’s friends by coordinating activities for children in Fairfax, Virginia; Montgomery, Alabama; and Charlotte. After returning to Charlotte, Shirley helped care for her widowed mother, Bryte, for many years.

In 2001, Shirley and Moe moved to Southminster Retirement Community where they have enjoyed a secure and socially active life. Most recently, Shirley has enjoyed spending time reliving her Queens experiences with her granddaughter, Christina, a 2011 graduate of Queens.

Shirley is survived by her beloved husband of 61 years and best friend, Moe, their daughter, Tison Carmack and her husband Christopher Carmack, and her two wonderful grandchildren, Christina, 22, and Benjamin, 14.

Southminster is noted for its exceptional Health Care operations and Shirley’s family are eternally grateful for the tender, caring, and professional services provided by the Health Care staff.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2011 in The Chapel of Southminster. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Queens University of Charlotte, 1900 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28274 or the Southminster Foundation, 8919 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28210.