Mary Ella Ward

Mary, was born on July 3, 1948 in Clarksville, TN to Eddie Lee Johnson and Margaret Elizabeth (Sensley) Johnson. The family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana when Mary was a small child. Here she attended Elementary School 56, and graduated from Arsenal Tech High School, in 1966. She married Lynden Ward on November 24, 1971 at Eastern Star Baptist Church, and they planned to celebrate 55 years of marriage later this year. After high school, she began working as a telephone operator at Indiana Bell telephone company, and remained there until she stopped working to raise a family. Once her children were older, she went back to work as a secretary at various companies. She worked many years at Jenn Air, until they closed in 1996, and then she worked at Meals on Wheels until she retired in 2011.

Mary was a lifelong member of Eastern Star Baptist church, beginning as a child when she lived across the street from the church, located on 22nd and Columbia Ave. Though recently, she hadn’t physically been able to attend.

She was the sweetest person- kind and helpful to everyone. She babysat many of the children in the family and some in the neighborhood. She always had a car, van or station wagon full of kids; going to school, the Children’s Museum, church youth group or Vacation Bible School.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents and her sister Barbara Meadows, and her bonus son Reginald McConico.

Mary is survived by her husband Lynden Ward, daughter Lisa (Michail) Poulakis, son Jason (Shana) Ward, bonus children Tara Majors-Taylor and India Dawson, and sister Janice Kimble. Along with a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Crown Hill Funeral Home, 700 W. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46208 on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, followed by a Celebration of Life at 12:00 pm.

Mary's final resting place will be at Crown Hill Cemetery.