Mildred Ward

Mildred Ward, born February 2, 1937, in Rayville, Louisiana to Viola O. Siggal and Benjamin James Siggal Sr. Being born into a large family of 15 siblings, her parents led by example, and instilled in her a genuine love for God, the church, school education, and family. Mildred became a Christian at a very early age, she began the Lord’s work (to Believe on him, Jesus) at Luden Chapel Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor G.C. Cobbs, in Monroe, LA.

Mildred (Dear, her family nickname) attended Booker T. Washington Elementary and went to attend Carroll High School. Mildred (Dear) was the star of the girl’s high school basketball team. Dear learned to play basketball while watching her older brother Amos (Jay) teach her older sister Margaret (Spig) how to play the game. Spig was very good at the game and she also was on the team at the school. But Dear excelled at basketball and was known all over the city of Monroe for being one of the best female players in the game. She was also a star on the track team. Upon graduation from Carroll High, Mildred was awarded a full scholarship to Grambling College in basketball. There is a picture in the 1954 yearbook at Carroll High and it is a moment in a ball game where Mildred is shooting a shot from half court and she makes it. She did that a number of times.

In her second year of college Mildred was with child and left Grambling to become a mother. In the early 1960s she and her four children moved to Kansas City, Missouri. She found work there as an assembly line worker and then at an American paper bag company where she worked up to supervisor, and years later retired. While living in Kansas City she remained very active in sports. She was one of the best female softball players in the city leagues.

On March 12,2021 Jesus called Mildred home to spend eternity with him. Mildred was preceded in passing by her parents: Benjamin James Siggal Sr. and Viola Octavia Davison Siggal; son: Scottie Sigg al; brothers: Leon (Pap), Amos (Jay), Robert (Doc), Benjamin Jr. (Dunny); and sisters: Margaret (Spig), Gloria (Glory or Bugg), Clotiel (Tudder), and Levon (Dal), and her husband: Fred Ward.

She leaves to cherish her memories, daughters: Shelia Marie Villega, and Phyllis Ann Lockhart, and sons: Patrick Dewayne Siggal Sr. and Anthony Siggal; sisters: Elizabeth Morgan (Bet), Carrie Richmond (Carrie), Evon Mccoy (Shutter), TheardOla Kennedy (Ola), and Vivian Woodard (Vivi); brother: Ronald Benjamin James Siggal (Ronnie). Also, four grandchildren: Patrick Dewayne Siggal Jr., Octavia Levon Siggal, Gilbert Moss, and Anthony Siggal Jr.; great-grandson London James Siggal and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.