Obituary of Dwayne K. Ward

Dwayne Keith Ward, age 49, of St. Petersburg, Florida, and a former resident of Watauga County, died Wednesday, October 6, 2010. Dwayne was born March 31, 1961 in Virginia Beach, Virginia to Alfred �Cub� and Maxie Hicks Ward. He was a 1983 graduate of the Communications Department at ASU. Dwayne was a very eloquent fiction writer and author. He had a beautiful deep voice as some of you rock and roll fans may remember him from his days as a disc jockey at WKZQ in Myrtle Beach, before moving on to WROQ in Charlotte. Dwayne later moved to Los Angeles to become an editor for the radio trade magazine Network40. From there, he represented several record labels, including MCA records and Atlantic Records. He was recognized on the album covers of the bands Firehouse and Sugar Creek and was acquainted with several famous musicians. There are pictures of him with Tina Turner, Kid Rock and Uncle Cracker, to name a few. Dwayne never had children of his own, but he was very proud of and loved his four nieces and nephews. He is survived by his sister, Piper Ward Woodring and husband, Steve, of Boone; two brothers, Sean Ward and wife, Melinda, of Vilas and Chuck Ward and wife, Marti, of Hickory; one step-brother, Reed Brown and wife, Tracy, of Boone; his step-father, David Brown of Boone; four nieces, Callie Woodring, Alison Ward, Madyson Ward and Keegan Brown; and three nephews, Ethan Woodring, Ian Ward and Tripp Brown. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cub Ward and Maxie Hicks Ward Brown. A celebration of life service will be conducted Sunday evening, October 17, 2010 at 6 o'clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends Sunday from 5 until 6 o'clock, prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. Online condolences may be sent to our website austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Ward family.