Sara Morrison Ward

CELEBRATION OF SARA ELEANOR MORRISON WARD

December 9, 1915 – July 17, 2017

“AND GOD STOOPED DOWN AND KISSED HER CHEEK AND THERE SHE WAS,”-----

SARA ELEANOR MORRISON, BORN 12-09-1915 IN BARNET, VERMONT.  Sara spent most of her adult life in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Galax, Virginia after marrying Harry Cox Ward and later adding children, Robert K. Ward of Gurnee, Ill. and Martha E. Ward of High Point, NC.  Since 1999 she has resided in High Point, NC.

Sara’s eventful life’s journey has been blessed with many accomplishments: executive secretary, piano, organ and voice teacher,  church choir director for many years; annual community producer/director of Handel’s Messiah with accompaning orchestra; Peace Corps volunteer to Montserrat, West Indies at 70; poet, composer and novelist.

Some former loving sentiments and tributes from family, friends and students, written in celebration of Sara, are as follows:

“Thank you for your years of service in our Music Ministry” Galax First Baptist Church

“Thank you Lord for allowing me to share all these years with you. You have always inspired me to be a better person.” Gil Morrison

“I had such respect for your incredible independence---so ahead of your time and an inspiration to me.  You enriched our lives.” Donna Ward Schaub

“You are an amazing woman of strength, character and real beauty---the kind that glows from inside out.”  Ann Carico McMillan

“We have never forgotten how we were blessed by your stay among us in Montserrat, West Indies.” Blondena & Lazella Howes

“You have been a gift to so many of us.  You have blessed our lives not only in music but with the joy of knowing you.” Becky Watson Gatchel

“Praise to God for your energetic productive life that has benefitted so many people. Praise to God that our paths crossed.  Thank you for sharing your love and talents with me.  Your molding, shaping and inspiration carried me into earning a BME Degree at Jacksonville University in Florida, no prerequisite music courses required.” Brenda Kay Vaughan Moraski

“My thanks to Sara for encouraging my love for music as a small child at First Baptist, Galax.  I never had a finer teacher in any field.”  Bill Vaughan

“Thank you for the many ways tangible and non that you made my life better for all time.  I learned so much from you with piano lessons.  You did make sure that I had music with me always even as an avocation when you talked my grandfather into giving me my own piano for my 16th birthday.  That piano has been up and down the east coast, and now resides in Maine with me, its 73 years old owner!”

Augusta Messer Anderson

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your patience, Christian motivation, and expert instruction in youth choir and piano lessons for so many years.  You may be pleased to know that I served as pianist and music director in a small church for over 20 years in my hometown of Ithaca, NY where I have been a professor at Cornell University for over 33 years.  I remember fondly those early evening lessons in your home, recitals, choir practice and special music.  Thank you for everything and God bless you on the happy occasion.”  Dr. John E. Parks

“Mrs. Ward, my letter offers only a tiny fraction of long-ago memories from that magical Vermont gift you provided---just one of your many gifts that has profoundly influenced me.  If ever I failed to offer an appropriate thank you, then I do so now.  THANK YOU!  It is no accident that I’ve spent most of my years living where the white birches grow.”  Stan Maiden

“Thank you Sara for “leaning” into my life for seeing more of me than I would have been able to bring forth on my own.  I will continue all the days of my life to be grateful for the special gift of you.  I love you very much, I appreciate you, I celebrate the work of God in and through you.  I celebrate you, Sara Morrison Ward, in my life.”  Psalms 139: 17  “How precious thy thoughts to me, O God; how vast is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.” Gerri Davis

A Memorial service will be held in Galax, Virginia at a future date.  Contributions my go to Hospice of the Piedmont.

“Sara’s life has always been full of joy, tremendous love and devotion to family and music.  She has been given talents that have transformed many and has turned her world into a valuable instrument of peace and extraordinary stewardship; Sara was a woman of substance.” Martha Ellen Ward, daughter

Wright Cremation & Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.