Henry Ward

Henry Deas Ward, 84, of Gulfport, MS died May 9, 2006 in Houston, TX. Born in Charleston, S.C. Mr. Ward was a native of Bonifay Florida and a resident of Gulfport since 1949. He served in the Marine Corp in the Pacific Theater during World WAR II. He was also a member of the Marine Corp Band. Following the war he enrolled in the University of Florida. Due to the overwhelming number of GIs returning from service the university sent 500 GIs to Florida State College for Women. Whereby establishing Florida State University.
In 1949, Mr. Ward was in the first graduating class of Florida State University graduating with a BS in Accounting. In 1949 Mr. Ward became associated with A.L. Evans and Company CPAaÌ‚â‚â„¢s later becoming Wright, Ward, Hatten and Co. CPAaÌ‚â‚â„¢s. It is now Wright, Ward, Hatten and Guel CPAaÌ‚â‚â„¢s. He served the
board of the Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy. He practiced for 57 years.
Mr. Ward was a member of First Baptist Church, Gulfport where he served as deacon, Sunday School teacher and various other committees.
He was preceded in death by his parents Aubrey Victor Ward and Verna Hagan Ward, brother
Kelly Aubrey Ward, sister Hubernette Ward Williams.
He survived by his wife of 51 years, Thelma Dance Ward; two sons James David Ward and wife Leslie Wren Ward of Little Rock, AR, Stephen Henry Ward and wife Lori Anderson Ward of Hattiesburg and one daughter Janie Ward Bertucci and husband Fank E. Bertucci and eight grandchildren Lee
Anne Bertucci, Jeffrey Ward Bertucci, Frank Ryland Bertucci of Gulfport; Wren
Elizabeth Ward, Helen Deas Ward and Anne Bridges Ward of LittleRock, AR.; Christian Lee Ward and Andrew Duane Ward ofHattiesburg.
Visitation will be Monday May 15, 2006 from 9:30am-11:00am at Bayou View Baptist Church, Chamberlain Ave. with services to follow at 11:00am at the Church.
The Family requests that contributions be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund, or First Baptist Church Global Missions Fund, 516 A. Courthouse Road, Gulfport, MS 39507
Gulf Coast Funeral Homes, Inc. Three Rivers Road Chapel is in charge of arrangements and, an online guestbook may be signed at www.gulfcoastfh.com.