Maude Trotman Ward, 95, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt, died March 3, 2007, in Tallahassee. Funeral services were held Tuesday in the Culley’s Meadow Wood Timberlane Road Chapel.
Maude was born in Walton County, spending her early years in Alaqua, where she attended school and church. Later, moving to DeFuniak Springs, she continued in high school and met and married Eugene Ward, joint owner of the Chevrolet dealership. Maude taught school for 16 years in Walton County and had fond memories of the faculty and students at Paxton School.
In 1948, the family moved to Tallahassee. She worked several years at the Florida Highway Patrol until 1974 when she retired to care for her ill husband who died in 1975. Maude enjoyed an active life with her children and grandchildren, who generally expected to have hot dogs and a fresh-baked cake when they visited her. Before her eyesight failed, she enjoyed making latch-hook wall hangings and quilting.
Maude was a member of Parkway Baptist Church. She enjoyed listening to religious music and to Charles Stanley’s In Touch programs.
She is survived by five children: Miladeen Hostetter, Gloria Ward, Sarah Johnson and husband, Dallas Johnson, Christi Gray and husband, James Gray and David Ward and his wife, Judi Ward. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild and many nieces and nephews.
The family has lost its “Queen Mother”, but she will be cherished and remembered for years.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, William Eugene Ward.
[Source: The DeFuniak Springs Herald, March 8, 2007, Page 7B]
[Burial: Culley’s MeadowWood Memorial Park, Tallahassee, Florida]