Virginia E. Ward, 91, of Petersburg, passed away at 2:46 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at Sunny Acres. Virginia was born January 30, 1923 in Alton, the daughter of Cyrus and Jennie Keen Johnson. She married Paul Ward on March 8, 1946 in Bloomington; he preceded her in death. Virginia was a graduate of Alton High School and attended ISU. She was a kind-hearted person, who was famous for always having candy to give to children. She was also preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Cora Darden and one brother, Cyrus Johnson. She is survived by her daughter, Karen Ward; two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; four brothers, Harold (wife, Evelyn), William (wife, Sue), Lloyd (wife, Minnie) and Alvin (wife, Thelma) Johnson; three sisters, Lucille Piggott, Mary Hyndman, and Adele (husband, Will) Carpenter. Visitation and Funeral Ceremony: Family will receive friends from 10:00 until the time of the Funeral Ceremony at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 27, 2014 at Zion Baptist Church, 1601 East Laurel St., Springfield with Rev. Samuel W. Hale, Jr., officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
