Thursday, February 3, 2011 9:28 am

Mr. Joseph E. “Eddie” Ward, Sr., 77, of 223 McCall Drive, Forest City, NC, passed away on Thursday, January 27, 2011. Services were held at Florence Baptist Church. Interment follow in Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery.

Mr. Ward was preceded in death by his parents,  Floyd Ward and Dora Bridges Ward  and one brother, Cecil Ward.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Frances R. Ward; one daughter, Sheila Ward Greene and husband, Wilford, Sr. of Cliffside, NC; one son, Joey Ward and wife Sarah of Chapel Hill, NC; one brother, Robert “Bob” Ward of Florence, SC; two sisters, Versie Spangler and husband, Gene of Shelby, NC and Beki Melton of Forest City; one sister in-law, Betty Ward of Spindale; five grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

Memorials may be made to Florence Baptist Church Building Fund, 201 South Broadway, Forest City, NC  28043.

Harrelson Funeral Home, Caroleen, NC is serving the family.