Obituary of Doris Marie Ward

Doris Marie Ward, the eldest daughter of four children born to Samuel and Gladys Edwards.  The Edwards resided in Monroe, Louisiana where Doris was a student at Monroe Colored High.  The Edwards were faithful servants for many years at China Grove Baptist Church.  The family later moved their membership to Solomon Temple Baptist Church.

In 1948, Doris married Aubrey Dunn, Sr. and in this union they had three children.  Later in 1954, Doris married J.W. Ward and in this union they had three children.  Soon after J.W. Ward accepted an employment offer from a company in Houston, Texas; the Wards and their six children relocated to Houston in 1965 to begin a new life.

Although Doris was a devoted wife and mother, she was independent - believed in hard work and she desired to contribute more to her family.  Doris joined the domestic workforce where she was employed for many years.  She later became a physical therapy assistant at St. Anthony’s where she remained until her well-deserved retirement.

In 1971, Doris became a faithful member at Outreach Missionary Baptist Church.  Later in 1998, she moved her membership to The New Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.

Despite her retirement, Doris still had a very active social life and had a host of best friends, which included Cliftine Pettie (Houston, TX, deceased), Lucille Lucas (Houston, TX), Nathaniel White (Houston, TX), Willie Garrett (Houston, TX), and her lifelong friend Hazel Hughes (Monroe, LA).  Doris was a civic minded citizen and was immersed in following national and local politics.  She also assisted in her local community by providing meals to some of her neighbors.

On September 7, 2019, Doris transitioned from earth-side to glory where she was completely healed.  She is preceded in death by her parents Samuel and Gladys Edwards, sisters Glenda Edwards-Wilson, Linda Gray-Williams, and brother-in-law Johnny Slack, Sr.

She leaves to cherish her loving memory; her children:  Aubrey Dunn, Jr., Betty Dunn-Willis, Bennie Dunn-Lovings, Steve Ward, Denise Ward, and Janice Ward; sister:  Beverly Edwards-Slack; grandchildren:  Cassandra Willis, Gwendolyn Dunn, Reginald Matthews, Joseph Lewis (Lacey Mosley-Lewis), Christopher Scott, Steven Ward, and Nicholas Townsend; great grandchildren:  Jeremy Gaines, Kameron Thomas, Malcolm Johnson, Jr., Kenya Willis, Brittany Willis; great-great grandchildren:  Bri’elle Jones and Bradley Jones; and a host of nieces and nephews including, Michael Slack, Johnny Slack, Jr., Alpha Slack, Melissa Slack-Abram, Julius Slack, Dwayne Gray, Reginald Wright, and LaTreace Wright.