Vella Ward
Published 4:23 pm Friday, December 27, 2019
Vella Ward, 77, of Carter County, Tenn., went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 25, 2019, at Sycamore Shoals Hospital. Vella was born in Johnson County, Tenn., to the late Eugene and Annie Campbell Arnold. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her stepmother, Winnie Ruth Arnold; her husband of 33 years, John Henry Ward, in March 2019; a daughter, Betty Ann Hughes; her brothers, Bobby Gene Arnold, Dallas Arnold and James Arnold; two sisters, Sylvia Miller and Frances Richardson; and four step-brothers, Jerry McFall, Ronnie McFall, Bill McFall and Fred McFall.
Vella was a wise, selfless, loving, caring, kind, insightful and faithful woman of God and she was never afraid or avoided hard work. She was a faithful member of Southside Free Will Baptist Church and she retired from Baxter International after nearly 30 years of dedicated service. Vella enjoyed gardening in her flowers, journaling, going to church and praising the Lord. Most of all she loved and enjoyed taking care of her family and loved ones.
Those left to cherish her wonderful memories include her step-children, Karen Marie Ingram, Donna Kay Ward and Terry Lynn Ward and his wife Sheila; her grandchildren, Bridget Renee Neff (Wayne Gordon Whitehead III), Whitney Ingram and Brandon Ingram; two sisters, Geneva Kate Eldrith and Hattie Pearl Atwood; and a step-brother, JR Wagner (“Tude”). Several nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren also survive.
A service to celebrate the life of Vella Ward will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, December 29, in the Chapel of Peace at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Pastor Jeremy Burleson officiating. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 2 until 3 p.m. Sunday, prior to the service, or at the home at other times. A graveside service to celebrate the life of Vella Ward will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, December 30, at Washington County Memory Gardens. Those wishing to attend the service are asked to meet at the cemetery at 10:50 a.m. The family would like to express a special thank you to two special nieces, Karen Colson and Shirley Hubbard, and two special friends, Vicki and Don Pate. Also, to Wayne and Lou Laws and Linda and Jim Carver, for their loving care and support. Online condolences may be shared with the family on our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Vella and her family are in the care of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton. Office: (423) 542-2232. Service Information Line: (423) 543-4917.