Brinkley Oneal Ward

Sunrise June 14th, 1951, Sunset October 16th 2023

Born in Houston Texas, Brinkley (Brink) Oneal Ward was the third born to a family of eight children of Alvin and Virgina Ward. He was a retired computer programmer for Wells Fargo Bank.

Brink’s family moved to California when he was 7years old. He spent his formative years growing up in Santa Ana California. He attended Monte Vista Elementary School, Smedley Jr. High School and received his diploma from Santa Ana Valley High School. He would go on to pursue his AA degree and a teacher’s certificate from Santa Ana College.

From an early age, Brink was always driven by the lure of success and making money. He grew up in a household that owned a family business and working with his father in the family business provided him with the opportunity of not having to go far in his pursuit of earning money. Brink knew that the more he worked, the more money he would make. Earning a paycheck inspired him. He knew earning money gave him the freedom and the opportunity to buy and obtain the things that he wanted. With his parents running a family business he also saw the family business as a way that he could bring his friends along, they could hang out together while working and making money while continuing to grow the family business. With Brink, a job that paid was alright with him. He would also work outside the family business taking line jobs at companies like Autonetics in Anaheim.

Brink would always desire the finest of everything, from clothes to motorcycles and cars, to sitting in the barber seat every weekend. As a matter of fact, Brink got so particular with how he looked he took up learning how to cut hair, so he could cut his own hair exactly how he wanted it. He later figured out that cutting hair paid too. So as a side job, he bought himself a hair cutting kit and would cut hair for a few extra dollars.

Although very fortunate to have great jobs, the passion and drive to teach drove Brink to find himself working in the field of education at Lincoln Elementary School as a teacher’s aide and campus activity coordinator. Also, after hours and on the weekends at Jerome Community Center, he would continue to teach, mentor and coach kids in after school and weekend activities.

Brink was always thrilled with being able to coach and supervise the growth and safety of young kids. As a matter of fact, there are many people to this day that will speak of how they remember him as being a coach, teacher or as the young girls would say he was a “cool and handsome guy too”.

Oh, and Girls, yes, there were plenty. Brink was a person of impeccable style and always had to have things in place. Shoes shined, clothes pressed, Old Spice or Brute cologne on and a fresh cut was a must. Every time he stepped out of the house, he was ready for the ladies. Even if he was meeting the fellas in Jerome Park to play handball, or later in life at the YMCA to play racquetball and tennis. He never was the rise out of bed and go play guy. He got dressed and got ready. Always on point to impress the ladies.

A competitor at every level, Brink was always quick witted with a jab at you if he was winning and the jabs would keep coming if knew he had you on the ropes and he won. Winning meant a lot to him but losing was very difficult for him to handle. He didn’t handle it well at all.

Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s was a time of change. There was an evolution toward black independence and black pride. Brink and his friends found themselves in the middle of a movement that would shape them for the rest of their lives. The Black Panther party had captured the nation and Brink was wrapped up in the movement which would shape his attitude toward living a life of pride and responsibility to self and community. However, regardless of any movement, Brink was of the ” But I like the Girls” movement too. And the girls were of the “I like Brink movement” also. The shuffle was real, the ladies’ man was in full effect. In fact, Brinks friends that had sisters would be wise to pay attention. As Artie Aldridge or Val Leedy would tell it, by the time Artie or Val found out, they had no idea Brink and their sisters had been dating for as long as they were.

Brink would tell you that growing up in Santa Ana was what dreams were made of. A tight knit safe community, where young men loved to work, make money, buy cars, and chase girls. Oh, and the cars, from Volkswagen car clubs, Creepin Wagons, to the Goats /GTO’s and everything in between. It was a good life. Friday and Saturday nights at the Rec Center, or at Alias Smith and Jones and the Ghetto nightclubs and house parties. Growing up in Santa Ana was a good place to be.

When all of life’s challenges had presented itself to Brink, it became apparent that growing up, slowing down and taking on grown folk responsibilities was the next order in the life cycle. In his mid-twenties Brink decided it was time to take on a different role in his life. He desired to go to work outside of his comfort zone and began applying for jobs in the area that was of the most interest to him, money. He applied for banking jobs and landed with what he would call the horse and buggy team, Wells Fargo Bank. The Wells Fargo job literally suited him perfectly. It allowed him to dress impeccably everyday while handling money and interacting with people on the teller line. Brink would firmly plant his feet with the horse and buggy team and make it a lasting career, going from teller to supervisor to finally systems program manager and head of the computer room.

During Brink’s time of growth and maturity he would spot the young lady that would complete his circle. He began his pursuit of the beautiful young neighborhood hard to catch girl, Linda Cleo Ammons. He knew this would be a challenge because he had a little bit of a reputation with the ladies, but he convinced her that he was a changed man. He went for it, she bit, and he got the girl of his dreams. They moved in together and knew they were it. In sometime around November of 1976, things began to change there was a seed planted and growing. By July 22nd, 1977, Jasmine Dawn was born. Brink put in motion at that point to formalize the union by proposing marriage to Linda. She said yes and on July 29th, 1979, the union of Brinkley Oneal Ward and Linda Cleo Ammons was formed as Mr. and Mrs. Ward. From that union which would last for 44 years until October 16th, 2023, they saw the joys of Jasmine’s formative years. The birth of their first grandchild, Brittany, a college graduate, and accomplished business professional. Grandson’s Theordore /TJ and Jayden both of whom are currently in high school and Junior high school. Linda, Jasmine, and his grandkids were the drivers of Brink’s life. They were his everything.

When Brink realized that his health was falling, he loved them very hard. He was determined to build their character based on the resilience and toughness that they would need to carry on without him. At times it was hard to understand but in the end it all made sense. He had seen it all. He had lost a lot and was determined to make sure they understood that you need to prepare yourself daily for the challenges of life. Brink always made it a point that he got the last word, and up until his final days he got the last word. Brink was a man of his word.

Brinkley Oneal Ward is survived by his wife of 44years Linda. His daughters Jasmine Ward and Rosalyn Johnson. Jasmin’s kids, granddaughter Brittany and two grandsons, Theodore /TJ, and Jayden. His sister Alvina Davison and Brother Rick (Rochelle) Ward and many nieces and nephews.

He is Preceded in death by his son Poncho Woodard, His father Alvin Ward Jr., His mother, Virginia Ward, His brothers Alfred Ray, Donnie Perry, Ronnie Gary and his sister’s Cammella Sue and Staci Robyn.