Frances Ward

Frances Ward, age 88, of Forest City, woke up to see the beauty of her heavenly home as she passed from this temporal life into the eternal presence of God on Sunday, February 18, 2024 at Brookdale Senior Living Center. 

Frances was born Sunday, October 13, 1935 in Knoxville, Tennessee to the late Lila Mae Stephens Hamrick. She was a graduate of Tri-High School, class of 1954. She earned degrees from Gardner-Webb University, Limestone University and a master’s degree in education from Converse University. She taught eleventh grade English at East Rutherford High and Chase High School for twenty-eight years before retirement. Frances was a woman of great faith and a past member of Caroleen Baptist Church where she served in various youth ministries. She was a present and faithful member of Florence Baptist Church and attended bible study classes at Second Baptist Church of Rutherfordton for over fifteen years. Frances served as a mentor for the McNair Educational Foundation and enjoyed reading and painting. She had a servant’s heart and displayed a desire to reach out to others and to share the love of Christ. 

In addition to her mother, she was preceded by her husband of fifty-seven years, Joseph “Eddie” Ward; stepfather, W.O. Hamrick; sister, Lorene Street and a brother, Billy Hamrick. 

Those left to treasure her memory include her daughter, Sheila Ward Greene (Wilford) of Cliffside; son, Joey Ward of Raleigh, NC; grandchildren, Russell Padgett (Angela), Daniel Padgett (Rachel); Elizabeth Clifton, Wilford Greene, Jr., B.J. Greene and Lilah Ward; great grandchildren, Kevin, Andrew, Kyler, Savannah, Siena and two great-great grandchildren, Jack and Macie.

The funeral service will be conducted at 3:00 pm on Monday, February 26^th at Florence Baptist Church with Reverend Scott Haynes and Reverend Daniel Selman officiating. Interment will follow at Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time in the church auditorium.  

Memorials are requested to the McNair Educational Foundation, www.mcnairedfoundation.org or the Macular Degeneration Foundation, www.eyesight.org