Ephriam Braxton Ward - Leachville

Friday, February 27, 2004

Ephriam Braxton Ward, 73, of Leachville, died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004, at St. Bernard's Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born at Leachville, he was the son of the late John and Hattie Rucker Ward and had been a lifelong Leachville area resident. He was a retired employee of Randall Textron of Blytheville and had been a lifelong member and a longtime deacon of the Happy Corner Assembly of God Church.

He is survived by his wife, Estelle Gooch Ward, of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, Rev. John Elmer and Kristen Ward of Mt. Olivette, Ky.; a daughter and son-in-law, Judith Diann Love and husband, Allen, of Leachville; a brother, John Willie Ward of Cord; two sisters, Louise Cagle Williams and Catherine Leoda Carder, both of Leachville; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and one granddaughter-in-law.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Ephriam Braxton Ward, Jr.; a daughter, Cynthia Jane Ward; a brother, David Jason Ward; and a grandson, Allen Jerome Love.

The funeral was held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Howard Funeral Chapel in Leachville with Rev. Trumann Wycoff, Rev. John Ward and Rev. Donnie Morrison officiating. Burial was in Pine Log Cemetery in Paragould.

Pallbearers were Randy Rose, Johnny Ward, David Ward, Jace Cagle, Nicholas Cagle and Michael Walls. Honorary pallbearer was Billy Carder.