Obituary of Reverend John M. Ward

Pastor John Maurice Ward, age 63, of Bethel Road, Sugar Grove, died Saturday afternoon at Watauga Medical Center. Born August 8, 1945 in Watauga County, he was a son of the late Baker Perry Ward and Louiva Edmisten Ward. Maurice was a member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as Pastor for 34 years. He was also the Pastor of Midway Baptist Church in Butler, TN, Bethany Baptist Church in Banner Elk and Timbered Ridge Baptist Church in Sugar Grove. He was an Electronics Technician at Appalachian State University and a cattle farmer. Surviving are his wife; Shirley Hagaman Ward, his mother; Louiva Edmisten Ward, one brother, Gareth Ward and wife Phyllis all of Sugar Grove, one sister, Judy Nuckols and husband David of Vinton, VA, his mother and father in law, Ruby and Gilbert Hagaman of Sugar Grove, one sister in law, Barbara Harmon and husband Roger of Sugar Grove, six nieces and nephews, and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Baker Perry Ward and one sister, Alesia Ward. Funeral services for Pastor John Maurice Ward will be conducted Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. Officiating will be Rev. Carl Wilson, Rev. Derick Wilson and Rev. Tull Oakes. Graveside services and burial will be conducted Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock at the Bethel Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 5:30 until 8 o'clock at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Missionary Fund, in care of Larry Donnelly, Post Office Box 28, Zionville, NC 28698. Online condolences may be sent to the Ward family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Ward family.