Essie Mae Case Ward, of Brookhaven, passedaway peacefully Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, at The Blake, an assistedliving home in Ridgeland. She was 90.

    Born in Quentin, Essie spent her childhood in McComb. She moved toBrookhaven in 1931, during the days of the Great Depression. Shegraduated from Loyd Star High School in 1939 and shortly after,married her sweetheart, Earl Ward, formerly of Bogalusa.

    Earl was stationed at Camp Kilmer in New Jersey during World WarII, and Essie moved to be closer to him. She loved to talk abouttheir days living there, and weekend trips to New York City. Afterhis time in the Philippines, Earl returned to Brookhaven, wherethey remained throughout their lives.

    A former Miss Lincoln County, Essie Mae was a devoted mother andhomemaker. She kept busy with her Ladies Bible Study at BrookwayChurch of Christ and other activities in the church, the LincolnCounty Demonstration Club and the Brookhaven Garden Club. Sheserved as a 4-H leader and took part in annual campaigns for theAmerican Heart Association and other non-profit organizations.

    Essie loved to travel, and after Earl died in 1980, she wasfortunate to have several widowed friends who accompanied her ontrips to Portugal, Yugoslavia, Bermuda, Nova Scotia, Mexico and onseveral cruises. She was the happiest when her suitcase was packedand she was headed on another adventure.

    She adored her girls, Pam Ward Price, Sherry Ward Waldon, both ofBrookhaven, and Lisa Ward Purdie, of Madison; and her preciousgrandchildren, Robbie Sartin and wife, Billie, Steve Sartin andwife, Jodie, and Adam Waldon and wife, Jamie, all of Brookhaven,and Annalee Purdie, of Madison. She was preceded in death by hergranddaughter, Holly Ann Waldon. Essie is survived by twostep-grandchildren, Shelly Price Kilpatrick and husband, Jay, andEllis Purdie, all of Madison; three wonderful sons-in-law that sheoften worried constantly with her to-do list, Mitchell Waldon, JoePrice, both of Brookhaven, and Alan Purdie, of Madison; and ninegreat-grandchildren, Dana Sartin, Robyn Sartin Tibbs, Holly ClaireWaldon, Holly Case, Kristen Hall, Brady Hall, Jamison Boyd, all ofBrookhaven, and Aidan Kilpatrick and Katherine Kilpatrick, ofMadison.

    Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 21, atRiverwood Family Funeral Service. Visitation will be from 5 until 8p.m. at Sunday, Nov. 20, at Riverwood. Internment will be held atNew Salem Church of Christ Cemetery.

    The family would like to thank the compassionate and loving staffof The Blake for the excellent care they gave Essie and for being apart of her glorious send-off to be with the Lord. Also, muchgratitude is extended to the nurses and staff of Odyssey Hospiceand the services they provide.

    To express your thoughts to the family, you may visitriverwoodfamily.com and click on her name to leave a comment.