Alfred “Al” G. Ward

Published 1:13 pm Thursday, January 30, 2020

Mr. Alfred “Al” G. Ward, 90, a resident of Luverne, Alabama, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 20, 2020. A memorial service for Mr. Ward was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 1st, Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Luverne with Billy Ted Bond delivering the eulogy.

Al was born on January 3, 1930 in Berkeley, California. He learned the carpentry trade at an early age, and worked for the Carpenters Union all over the Sacramento, California area for many years. After he left the union, he went on to do contract work until he retired. He could build anything out of wood, from bird houses to cabinetry to houses.

Al loved to travel with his family throughout the state of California and other places of interest, but one of his favorite places of all was Yosemite National Park. He usually made several camping trips a year with the whole family to this place of natural beauty to enjoy the many marvels of God’s creation that it held.   

Al was also devoted to Christian ministry.

He was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1954, to which he remained faithful until his death. He regularly took his family to meetings and assemblies of Jehovah’s Witnesses for many years, and he also helped with many Kingdom Hall building projects across Northern California.

He loved to be at the Kingdom Hall with his spiritual brothers and sisters, and, after moving to Luverne, he became fondly known as their greeter, because he would stand in the entryway of the Kingdom Hall to greet and shake hands with all who came in.  He was well known for sharing an encouraging thought from the Bible with anyone and everyone he met. One of his favorite scriptures was Psalms 37:11, which says, “…the meek will possess the earth, And they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.”

Al was known and respected for being meek and humble, just as Jesus taught.

He always had a positive attitude and never complained. He had a great sense of humor, classic wit and timing, and he never missed an opportunity to share a funny joke and a hearty laugh.

Al moved to Alabama in 2016 at the age of 86. He still loved to travel and would go anywhere that was suggested.  He loved to sit on the porch in the evening and watch the birds come to the feeders and enjoy the beautiful Alabama sunsets. He will be greatly missed by all.

Mr. Ward was preceded in death by his son, Michael Duane Ward; grandson, Jacob James Wetherbee; parents, Frederick and Vida Ward; and four siblings, Bill, Gail, Florence, and Afton. He is survived by his wife, Harriett LaVerne Ward; four children, Timothy Ward, Jennifer Ward, Shannon (Billy Ted) Bond, and Kelly (Cody) Crocker; nine grandchildren, Cyndi (Chris) Hartwich, Tiffany (Ben) Cook, Joshua (Brittany) Toliver, Heather (Roy) Mills, Samuel (Amanda) Wetherbee, Benjamin (Tania) Wetherbee, Breanna Crocker, Katie (Mike) Mulligan, and Angela (Jacob Wetherbee) Renfroe; and seven great-grandchildren, Cayden, Travis, Gunner, Emma, Logan, Abigail, and Natalie.