Sandra Diane Lilly Ward

SANDRA DIANE LILLY WARD, MS, RN, age 77, passed from this life on Nov. 18th, 2018. She was the daughter of Lirleen and Russell Lilly. Sandra graduated from the Baptist School of Nursing in 1962 and immediately began her 45-year career as a charge nurse on a medical/surgical floor at the original Baptist Hospital. In 1966, she became the charge nurse in the Intensive Care Unit and participated in the development of the heart surgery program. In 1974, she became president of the Arkansas Chapter of Critical Care Nurses and began plans for opening a new surgical intensive care unit at the new Baptist Medical Center. In 1978, she developed the program for post-surgical care for heart surgery and opened the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit in 1980. It soon outgrew itself and had to open another unit in the late 1980's. In 1989, as the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit supervisor, she partnered with Stanford University in opening the Heart Transplant Program now at Baptist Medical Center. She, then, became Director of Critical Care in 1993. Sandra's multiple accolades for nursing include the first Clinical Excellence Award for Management and the prestigious Outstanding Professional Nurse Award from the Arkansas Nurses Association. Sandra is survived by loving children, Sean (Lynne) Ward and, daughter (and running/travel buddy), Kathleen Ward. Gran doted on her loving grandchildren, Ian and Jackson Ward, who in her eyes, could do no wrong. She loooooved spending time at the beach, especially Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. Her family thanks the staff at Parkway Assisted Living and BRI Baptist for the competent and concerned care she was given. A casual visitation will be held on Nov. 30th, 2018 from 6-8 p.m. in the Garden Room at Roller Chenal-Funeral Home, 13801 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, Ark. 72211. Her relatives, friends and former colleagues are invited to help the family celebrate her life of achievement, service and love. Please sign the guestbook here: https://www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/services.asp?page=odetail&id=50332&locid=17. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her name to the Baptist Nursing School at Baptist Health Foundation, Nursing Scholarships-BHCLR, 9601 Baptist Health Drive, Little Rock, Ark. 72205.