Michelle Chance Ward

Michelle Chance Ward, adoring wife of Tim Ward and outstanding mother of her three children Mary Elizabeth, Arthur, and Wilson, passed away peacefully surrounded by her closest family and friends. Her final moments were full of praise and love.

Born in Atlanta to Franklin Bruce Chance and Charlotte Waits Chance, she was a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts. After graduation, she moved to Atlanta and met Tim while they were volunteering as Young Life leaders. They joyfully married October 24th, 1992. She had a variety of professional experience, including but not limited to: Retail Training at First Union bank, corporate development at Egleston Children’s Hospital, and most recently substitute teaching at St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School for 14 years.

Michelle fought breast cancer on and off for 18 years. She was truly the epitome of strength and grace. She never complained, was always gracious, and put her family first, always. Michelle loved running and even ran a marathon during her recovery from her first fight with cancer. She loved all of the Ward family pets and walking them every day as long as she could. Michelle also loved to travel, from her adventures in France with her college girlfriends, to NYC trips with Tim, and all the family beach and skiing trips to her heart’s content.

Michelle was an encouraging wife to Tim, supporting his business endeavors in all failures and successes, truly honoring their vows as they went through the highs and lows of life together. In the last few years, she even worked alongside Tim and both of their sons at the family business.

Tim and Michelle were the best of friends, and their lifelong partnership was divinely ordained. They have set an example not only for their children and family, but for all who knew their love. Tim loved Michelle the way Christ loved His church and set the bar high for their children. She was elated that her daughter found the love of her life, someone who would love Mary Elizabeth the way Tim loved Michelle. The two got engaged in February, and thanks to the help of Pastor JJ Johnson of South Tampa Fellowship, Mary Elizabeth and her fiancé Will Thomas were able to say “I Do” in front of Michelle on her final evening here with us. The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, is the only way to explain the gratitude and love that surrounded the last few weeks.

She was preceded in death by her father, Franklin Bruce Chance. She is survived by her loving husband of 32 years, Timothy Brown Ward and their three children: her daughter Mary Elizabeth Ward Thomas and her husband William Buck Thomas; her sons Arthur Carlton Ward and Wilson Chance Ward. She is also survived by her mom Charlotte Chance Burnett and her husband; and her older brothers Charles Erin Chance and Michael Bruce Chance, their wives and daughters.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, December 17th at 4:00pm at South Tampa Fellowship church 5101 Bayshore Blvd. Tampa Florida. Following the service, there will be a reception to celebrate Michelle’s legacy at Pane Rustica at 5:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family would encourage you to give a donation in Michelle's memory to Young Life, Southwind Camp Capital for the new Club Building, #7175

Address is: Young Life Income Processing, PO Box 5184 Harlan, Iowa 51593-0684, or you may give via direct link: http://giving.younglife.org/southwind