Gracie Belle Ward

Miss Gracie Belle Ward, 106, of York, South Carolina gained her wings on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at Alexandria Place Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility in Gastonia, North Carolina. She was born December 25, 1915 in York County, South Carolina to the late Howard and Caroline Hemphill Ward.

Funeral services will be 2:00 pm, Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at Wesley United Methodist Church in York, SC.  Burial will follow at Uniondale Cemetery, 501 Hwy 321 Bypass, York, SC.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 6:00 pm, Tuesday, November 8th at the funeral home.

A smart and well-educated woman, after completing the eleventh grade in York Public Schools, she went on to graduate from Voorhees College. After graduation, she also attained her Master’s Degree in education.  Gracie returned to York County to teach, and served York Public Schools for over 40 years. She began in St. James Church School, a two-room school where she taught alongside Mrs. Elma Wright Williams, and later at Jefferson Elementary School, where she worked until she retired.

Gracie was a sweet and dedicated woman, walking to school to teach and to church, where she was a faithful member of Wesley United Methodist Church for many decades.  Gracie was also a member of the York Senior Center for many years.

She loved her vegetables and wouldn’t ruin a good supper with any snacks or a sandwich.  If you knew her, you also knew she was particular about whom she would accept rides from, especially as she got older and walking everywhere was more difficult for her.

In addition to her parents, Gracie is preceded in death by four brothers: Samuel, Benjamin, Harry and Robert Ward; and two sisters, Mamie Sadler and Mary Ella Smarr.

Gracie leaves to cherish loving memories one nephew, Martin T. Smarr of Gastonia, NC; four nieces, Mary Ann Knox (Rufus), Darlene Ford, and Robin Antrum (Dennis) all of Gastonia, NC, and Alice Ward of Reidsville, NC; one sister-in-law, Willie Mae Ward of Gastonia, NC; as well as a host of other relatives and friends. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gracie Belle Ward, please visit our floral store.