Tributes

Mary Ann Ward departed this life on October 19, 2018, at age 80, after a long battle with multiple autoimmune diseases. In her final days, Mary Ann was comforted by her deep and abiding faith and the love of her family, friends, and caregivers. Mary Ann (Brosmer) grew up in one of the founding families of Greenbelt, Maryland. She graduated from Northwestern H.S. in Hyattsville, Md., where she was a gifted multi-sport athlete, playing basketball and softball, and bowling competitively. She also coached girls’ softball and basketball and was an elementary school P.E. teacher. Mary Ann met her husband, Ronald E. Ward, when they were competitive bowlers in the Washington, D.C. area. They settled in Lewisdale, Md., where she worked in several clerical positions, attended St. Mark the Evangelist Church, and raised two sons. Upon retirement in the early 1990s, Mary Ann and Ron (who passed away in 2009) moved to Pawleys Island, S.C. There, she was active in the River Club golf community; the local Lions Club, where Ron was a member; and the Precious Blood of Christ Catholic Church, where she will be interred. Mary Ann lived in Pawleys Island until moving to Reston, Va., in 2017 to be closer to family. Throughout her life, Mary Ann was giving of her time and effort, volunteering in the Lewisdale Citizens’ Association and as a child welfare advocate in the Horry County courts in S.C. She also helped friends, neighbors, and family wherever she lived. Mary Ann was always appreciative of the accomplishments and talents of others. No visit was complete without an update on the achievements of her friends’ and relatives’ children; no family dinner lacked a recounting of her most recent outings to a concert, museum, or film. Mary Ann was a doting grandmother who was delighted to be followed from room to room by her little grandson or spend 30 minutes filling a long line of toy cars with pretend gas. Mary Ann leaves two sons, Jon Ward (and wife Bridget Kraft) and Jeff Ward (and wife Jacqui Olkin); grandson Rowan Ward; brother Joe Brosmer; sister Zita Marie Kidd (and brother-in-law Bill Kidd); sister-in-law Jessie McClain; cousin Betty Ann Finn; and many dear nieces, nephews, and friends from her time in Maryland, South Carolina, and Virginia. Mary Ann will be interred Saturday, November 10,at 12 noon, at Precious Blood of Christ Church in Pawleys Island, S.C., alongside her husband. Donations in memory of Mary Ann can be made to the Precious Blood of Christ Scholarship Fund, 1633 Waverly Rd., Pawleys Island, S.C. 29585.

Tributes

Mary Ann Ward

December 8, 1937 - October 19, 2018