Mr. Wayne Ward, 73, of Kite, passed away Thursday, August 3, 2023, at his residence following an extended illness. Funeral service was held Monday, August 7, at 11 a.m. at Gumlog Primitive Baptist Church with Elder Robbie Dollar officiating. Interment followed in Gumlog Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. The family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, August 6, at Chapman Funeral Home.
Pallbearers were Jim Stapleton, Steven Stapleton, John Kilgore, Danny Shepard, Walter Drew, Donald Peebles, Joel Scott, and Eddie Henry. Honorary pallbearers were the Kite Volunteer Fire Department.
Wayne was born October 28, 1949, in Gordon, to the late John Lee Ward Sr. and Mattie Smallwood Ward. He served in the United States Navy for four years and worked at Emanuel Medical Center in the maintenance department for 19 years. Wayne was also a volunteer fireman in Hephzibah and Kite and enjoyed woodwork. He attended Gumlog Primitive Baptist Church where he was a song leader and Sunday School teacher for many years. Wayne was a loving husband, father, and papa. Mr. Ward is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Joan Carpenter, Mary Kilgore, and Sherry Blackmon Hyman; brothers, John Ward Jr., Kenneth Ward, Lee Ward, and Darryl Ward.
Mr. Ward is survived by his wife of 47 years, Robbie F. Ward of Kite; son, Terry Ward (Regina) of Dublin; daughter, Rachel Ward Nesmith (Phillip) of Kite; brother, Paul Ward Casanova (Martin) of Tampa, FL.; grandchildren, Alayna Stapleton, Gracie Stapleton, Jim Stapleton, Raylin Stapleton, Hendley Hadden, Jaxon Stapleton, Wyatt Stapleton, Addison Ward, and Heidi Ward; several nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Chapman Funeral Home of Swainsboro was in charge of arrangements.
