Laurence Joseph “Joe” Ward, Jr., 77, beloved husband of Gail Armstrong Ward, entered into rest on Sunday, November 17, 2019.
A mass of Christian burial will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, November 23, 2019 at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church with Rev. Mark Ross serving as celebrant. Interment to follow at Westover Memorial Park.
Joe became the Program Director of The Hale Foundation, Inc. in Jan 2007. His career as a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor started at University Hospital’s Alcohol and Drug Unit in the mid 1980’s and later with Willingway Hospital, Statesboro, Ga, Bridges Of Hope, Louisville, Ga. Serenity Behavioral Services, Augusta, Ga., Bradford Health Services, Warrior Al. and American Work, Mental Health Services Augusta, Ga.
Joe brought years of “hands on experience” in the field of addiction to his role as Program Director of The Hale Foundation. Joe implemented a substance abuse program that requires discipline and responsibility coupled with his fundamental philosophy of “keep it simple”. Joe also stressed the vital importance for the Spiritual aspect of recovery more than anything else. He would always say “if you don’t find God, you will never get clean and sober”.
The Program included several weekly group sessions with the men. The 12:30 pm group meeting is affectionately called “the Joe Show”. It was in these 12:30 groups as well as the 6:15 pm evening group meetings that the men came to know and love Joe for his tireless and compassionate love for helping the sick and suffering alcoholic and drug addict. Over the last 34 years Joe touched thousands of men and women’s lives, many have gone on to have the life Joe told them they could always have. Nothing made Joe any happier than to here from a previous client that would stop by or call just say “Thank You”.
So “Thank You Joe” for the life you showed us that was possible through recovery, and “Thank You” for the time you spent with us!
Joe attended Boys Catholic High and graduated from Aquinas High School. He was an active member of St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church where he served as a Sacristan at the Tuesday morning mass and also served the Perpetual Adoration Chapel for more than 2o years. Joe was a member of the Irish American Heritage Society and the Knights of Columbus #677. He was active in several support groups including the Hill Group and the Saturday morning aftercare group. Joe loved cheering on his Aquinas Fighting Irish and his Georgia Bulldogs.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Ward is survived by his children, Melinda Ward Dansby (Jamey), Kelly Waite Dobson (Dicky), Amy Waite Riley, and Billy Waite; his grandchildren, Greggory Laurence Ward, Alexandra Courtney Ward, Lauren Dansby Henthorn, James Brey Dansby, and Mary Gail Riley; his great-grandchildren, Matthew Wells Henthorn, James Andrew Henthorn, and Ava Blair Ward; his brother, Frank Eugene Ward; and his sister, Betsy Ward Camp. He was preceded in death by his parents, Laurence Joseph and Mary Sancken Ward; his sons, John Thurman Ward and Laurence Patrick Ward; and by his siblings, Philip Sancken Ward and Patti Ward Ratzlaff.
Pallbearers will be Jamey Dansby, Brey Dansby, Dicky Dobson, Billy Waite, Jim Felton, and Bo Overton.
The family has asked that donations be made to an organization near and dear to Mr. Joe’s heart the Hale Foundation, a nonprofit group that helps those in need of recovery from drugs and or alcohol, 402 Walker Street, Augusta, GA, 30901. All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible.
A vigil for the deceased will be held at 5:00 PM on Friday, November 22, 2019 at the funeral home and the family will receive friends following the vigil until 8:00 PM.
Please sign the guestbook and send condolences at
www.plattsfuneralhome.com
PLATT’S FUNERAL HOME
721 CRAWFORD AVENUE