Joanne Dolores Briggs Ward

On Thursday November 26, 2015, Joanne Briggs Ward of Washington, DC and Vero Beach, FL passed away. She was the beloved wife of deceased Heman M. Ward; devoted mother of Karen W. Litchfield, Kathryn W. Bader, and Heman Clifford Ward; daughter of Luther S. Briggs and Lena S. Briggs; sister of Nancy Mitchell, Stewart Briggs, and Freddie Briggs; and grandmother of Jonathan Litchfield, Patricia Woolard, Christine Bresky, Kimberly Bader, Travis Bader, Colby Ward, Curtis Ward, and Christopher Ward.

Joanne graduated from Stratford College in Danville, VA. Her sister, Nancy, introduced her to the love of her life and husband for nearly 60 years. Together they built an amazing life surrounded by loyal and intimate friends while raising a tight knit family that enjoyed spending time together. The family would spend countless hours sitting around the table after meals laughing and talking. Joanne was a kind, generous woman who exhibited a strong sense of community involvement as she participated in the Florence Crittenton Home, the Goodwill Guild, John's Island study club, and charity art exhibits in John's Island, Florida. Her hobbies included being President of an investment club, playing in women's golf groups, and eating lunch with family and friends at Nordstrom's after hours of shopping. She was an avid reader of biographies and an Eagle member of Indian River Memorial hospital. She enjoyed art lessons and painting pictures with her husband.

Joanne was a petite soft spoken woman with strong convictions who led a positive life wrapped in the love of family and friends. She treasured her eight grandchildren and supported all their endeavors and dreams. Joanne always made people smile and feel at ease. She was the person her children aspired to be. Her sweet humor and fun-loving spirit endlessly entertained her grandchildren with giggles and sighs of "Oh Grandma..."

The family will receive friends at Joseph Gawler's Sons, 5130 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016 on Friday December 4, 2015 from 4 to 6 p.m. Services will be held at the Faith Methodist Church, 6810 Montrose Road Rockville, Maryland on Saturday December 5, 2015 at 11 a.m. Interment to take place at Parklawn Memorial Park Rockville, Maryland. Memorial contributions in Joanne Ward's name may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 216 W. Market Street, Suite B, Greensboro, North Carolina 27401.