Mary Ward

Gibsonville, NC Mary Elizabeth Simpson Ward, age 87, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, January 9, 2012 at Ashton Place surrounded by her family. She was a native of Alamance County and the wife of 68 years to the late Albert Lloyd Ward. Mary retired from Granite Diagnostics and later worked for Williams Medical for over 20 years. She was a charter member of Piedmont Baptist Church where she served as church clerk and Sunday School Secretary for over 20 years. She was a life member of VFW Post # 2972 in Gibsonville and a former member of the VFW Post # 10607 Auxiliary. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. Survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara Ann Williams of Gibsonville, Pat and Phillip Millikan of Elon and Kathy and Vic Andrews of Gibsonville; grandchildren and spouses, Wally Penny Williams, Jr., Rex Margie Williams, Michael Cathy Millikan, Stephen Millikan, Kenneth Shelby Andrews; 10 great grandchildren and 9 great great grandchildren; sister, Agnes Lilly of North Carolina; brother, Joseph Simpson, Jr. of Elon. She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert Lloyd Ward; parents, Joseph Arthur Simpson and Myrtle Mae Kernodle Simpson; son-in-law, Wallace Williams, Sr., grandson, David Millikan and brothers, Roland Simpson and James Howard Simpson and a sister, Maggie Cook. A service to celebrate her life will be held on Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at Lowe Funeral Home Chapel by Rev. Mike Jones and the burial will follow at Alamance Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home and other times at the home of Barbara Williams. The family was blessed to have caregivers, Earlene Allen, Vera McCollum and Mary Putnam who loved and cared for Mary in her home for over 2 years. We also want to thank the nurses and staff of Ashton Place for their kind and compassionate care during the past months of Mary's illness. Memorials may be made to Pilgrim Baptist Church, P O Box 66, Altamahaw, NC 27202 or The Alzheimer's Alamance Count Chapter, 4615 Dundas Drive, Suite 103, Greensboro, NC 27407.