Mrs. Shirley Ward was born in Richmond, Virginia on February 26, 1940. Her parents were the late Clayton Jasper Gilliam (1914-not sure) and Mildred Esco Sykes (1916-1997). She had two older brothers, the late Clayton C Gilliam (1933-2009) and the late Grady Earl Gilliam (1937-2007). Her husband was the late Golden Ward (1937-2009).

She started her early lies journey in elementary, middle and high school in Washington, DC.

Her late husband, from Wilson, NC, saw her while visiting the DC area and did not go back home. They married in 1959. They remained married, as the vows read, "til death do us part" - for fifty years.

With many other brave souls, she voluntarily integrated Eastern High School in NE Washington, DC where she excelled in academics; she was a cheerleader; and she graduated early in 1957.

Shirley Ward was a devoted wife and mother. She raised four incredible children as they mourn today; Kevin Ward (1960-present), Kurt Ward (1963-present), Rhonda Ward (1964-present) and Keenan Ward (1966-present).

In 1978, she and family moved to Wilson, NC. There she became a Certified Professional Secretary in 1986 (specialized in Business Law) and in 1993 she graduated Cum Laude from Shaw University in Business Management at the age of fifty-three. Her passion, however, was entrepreneurship. She dabbled in "Amway", "Beeline", "Avon", tupperware, fashion modeling, etc. She owned a liquor store in Washington, DC and a small soul food store in Wilson, NC. Further, she anchored a small residential rental property business with her husband. Her passion of business and love of family was undeniable. She loved piece of mind, but when it came to dancing, she'd put on Motown or Doo Wop music.

In carly 2000, she and her husband moved to Atlanta, GA for retirement and to be near their adult kids.