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James Perry Ward Sr.
James Perry Ward Sr. of Southampton died on April 29 at the East End Hospice Kanas Center on Quiogue. He was 94.
The son of the late Cora Davis Ward and Emanuel P. Ward Sr., he was born on November 9, 1926 in Currituck, North Carolina.
At an early age, his parents and family moved to Southampton. Mr. Ward was educated in the Southampton school system. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He obtained a Victory Medal and was honorably discharged on October 30, 1946.
Mr. Ward believed in hard work, his family said, and was employed with Duryea and Wilde Masonry for 40 years. During his early years, he drove a taxi for his father’s cab service, Ward’s Taxi, after work and on weekends. He retired from Duryea and Wilde, but returned to work part-time for many more years.
Mr. Ward joined Community Baptist Church of Southampton at an early age. Peck, known to most of his family and friends, was an avid sports fan (or manager) of the New York Yankees. He was so happy when the family got box seats to the Yankees Stadium, his family recalled. He also loved the New York Knicks and the Dallas Cowboys, they said.
For over 20 years, Peck and Pete enjoyed driving to Orlando, Florida, where they would visit Magic Kingdom every year. According to his family, he loved crabbing, bowling and keeping his property, especially his grass, nice and green.
Mr. Ward married the love of his life, Jo Lorraine Parker, on September 27, 1949. They were married for over 68 years until her death on May 25, 2016. Mr. Ward’s heart was truly broken, his family said, noting that the couple did everything together, and when you saw one, you saw the other.
He was predeceased by his wife, Jo Lorraine Ward; his parents, Cora Davis Ward and Emanuel Ward Sr.;, his brothers, Thaddeus (Ski), Emanuel (Palmer) John (Sunny), Herman, William (Bootsie), Harold, Paul and Chester.
Mr. Ward is survived by his four children, Gloria (Donald) Palmore of Southampton, James Jr. (Peggy) Ward of Kernersville, North Carolina, Helen (Andy) Walker of Virginia Beach, and L. Debby (Herm) Ward of Southampton; eight grandchildren, Nicole Johnson, James Ward III, Kit (Stephanie)Johnson, Cory Ward, LaToya (Derrick) James, Lindsay Smith (Peter), Elliott (Nicole) Ward and Antionette Walker; 13 great-grandchildren; his brother, Roosevelt “Tape”(Francis) Ward of Southampton; two sisters, Lilly Walker of New York City and Marion (Chester) Fields of California; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. The family wished to offer special thanks to Marie Pender and Jackie Smith.
A funeral service was held on May 4, at noon at the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton. Officiating was the Reverend Dr. Donald Butler. Interment with military honors followed at Southampton cemetery.
on May 7, 2021