Frank Jefferson "Jeff" Ward Jr

Frank Jefferson “Jeff” Ward, Jr. of Sanford passed away Saturday, January 2, 2016. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Tuesday at St Francis Anglican Church.

Mr. Ward was born in Chowan County, North Carolina, son of the late Frank Jefferson Ward, Sr and Bertie Saunders Ward. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Raymond S. Ward.

Mr. Ward was a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he did his undergraduate studies and earned his Juris Doctorate.  He and his wife, Helen, moved to Sanford in 1968 and Jeff began his 42 years of law practice. He was a past president of the Sanford Kiwanis Club, the Lee Senior High School Booster Club, the Sanford Chamber of Commerce, and The United Way of Lee Co. He was a past Senior Warden, Member of the Vestry, Chalice Bearer and Lay Reader at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. For 10 or so years he coached basketball in the 10-11 year old division for the Lee County Parks and Recreation Department.  He also served on the Board of Directors for the Lee County Boys and Girls Club and the Lee County Enrichment Center.  

Mr. Ward is survived by his wife, Helen T. Ward; daughter, Elizabeth Jeanne Ward Benfield and husband Floyd; a son Frank Jefferson Ward III and wife Stacy; six grandchildren, Grace, Anna and Jackson Benfield, Carly, Avery and Emmitt Ward; two brothers, Ralph Weldon Ward and wife Ethel of Virginia Beach, VA, and Davey Lee Ward and wife Jo of Knoxville, TN.  

He once said,  “The most rewarding times in my life are when I’m with my family and when I am at church.”  In 1996, when being interviewed by the Sanford Herald, he was asked, “What would like for an epitaph?”  He answered, “I’d like to be remembered as an honest Christian man, a good father, and a good husband.”  His family believes that he accomplished that and can add to the inscription that he should be remembered as a great grandfather as well.  

The family will receive friends from 6-8pm Monday at Rogers Pickard Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions can be made to St. Francis Anglican Church, 1089 Wilkins Dr., Sanford, NC 27330; or to the Boys and Girls Club of Sanford, PO Box 2027, Sanford, NC 27331.