Nettie Ward

Nettie Ward was born on October 20, 1916, and departed this life on December 5, 2011. She was born in Myrtle, Mississippi. Her parents were Howard and Sophie Whitehorn. Nettie had a full and useful life. The first part was spent on a farm in Myrtle, Mississippi with her parents and 10 surviving siblings. The next chapter was lived in Jackson, Mississippi with her husband and three children. There she fulfilled the role of loving wife, Supermom and homemaker. After the death of her husband, Joseph Cullen Ward Sr. in 1959, she moved to Starkville, Mississippi and had a career as a secretary for Mississippi State University. After retirement from MSU, her hands were not idle as she made and sold many different crafts. The last 10 golden years of her life were spent in Fairfield Bay, Ark., where she continued to enjoy her crafts and gardening and being Mama Ward to her grandchildren. Nettie was preceded in death by her parents, and two siblings, Alton and Lavern Whitehorn who died at very young ages. Later in life she lost 3 more siblings, Walter Whitehorn, Gladys Whitehorn Jones, and Nathan Whitehorn. Nettie's life was not always pleasant. The untimely death of her husband, Cullen, at the age of 46 brought the first tragedy, and was soon followed by the death of their two sons. The youngest son, George Howard Ward was killed at the age of 19 in the Vietnam War, and two years later Cancer took the life of the oldest son, Joseph Cullen Ward, Jr. at the age of 28. Nettie died at the Indian Rock Village, in Fairfield Bay, where she had been a patient since August of 2011. She is survived by her daughter, Jewel James and husband Don of Fairfield Bay. Other survivors are her brothers Wallace Whitehorn and wife Maggie of Pound, VA, Norman Whitehorn and wife Darlene of Tyler TX, George Whitehorn and wife Betty of Nashville, TN. Her surviving sisters are Lois Dodson and husband J.D. of Memphis, TN, Dorothy Trimm and husband Velton of Olive Branch, MS, and also Lovie Johnson and husband Maurice of Elberta, AL. Other survivors are the grandchildren, Cheryl Ward Williams, Gail Jackson, Stephen Babb, Amy Babb Higdon, Scott Babb, and Daniel Babb. Great-Grandchildren are Ashley and Joseph Campbell, Melissa, Lane, Payton, and Will Jackson, Emily, Andrew, and James Higdon, Ally, Leah, and Colton Babb, and Gunner Babb. Through Nettie's life, she acquired a host of friends and other family members all too numerable to mention. Visitation will be 9:30am and Funeral Service will be 11 a.m., Thursday, December 8, 2011 at the Church of Christ 7376 Edgemont Road, Higdon, Arkansas 72067 with Bro. Carroll Sites officiating. Interment will be held 10 a.m., Friday, December 9, 2011 at Lakewood Memorial Parks, Jackson, Mississippi. Funeral Arrangements are under the care and direction of Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Clinton, Arkansas. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.