Frankie Paul Ward

Frankie Paul Ward was born July 8, 1947 in Bruce, MS to Truman McDonald Ward and Mary Woodruff Ward Bryant. He departed his life on earth January 9, 2026 at St. Francis Hospital, Park Ave., Memphis, TN of complications due to cancer. He was a resident of Slate Springs, MS and Munford, TN.

After growing up and attending school in Vardaman and Calhoun City, Paul joined the Navy in April 1966. He retired January 30, 1986 as a Chief Petty Officer E7 Machinist Mate after serving 20 years. During his Navy career he was stationed in many bases including 2 1⁄2 years in Rota, Spain, Long Beach, CA, Mayport, FL, Millington, TN, and Norfork, VA. He served on many ships including USS Picking DD-685, USS Hollister DD-788, USS Topeka CLG-8, USS Canopus AS-34, USS Mount Whitney LLC-20, USS Yellowstone AD-41.

After retiring he co-owned and operated a landscaping and tree moving business in Virginia before relocating to the Dallas, TX area. There he worked for Pinnacle Group Property Management Company overseeing over a 300-unit apartment complex. Then he worked for L3 Harris Aerospace & Defense Technology Company in Greenville, TX.

In 2018 he relocated back to his beloved Mississippi, buying a home in Slate Springs. There he loved working on his land with his many “boy toys” until his health failed him.

Paul had a passion for fishing and hunting, belonging to several Bass Fishing Clubs and Deer Hunting Clubs during his lifetime. He had quite a collection of guns and found pleasure in gifting them to his buddies. He loved to cook and could grill up some mighty fine meats.

In 2021 he married the love of his life for 40 years, Nancy Sutphin Miller of Munford, TN. where they shared their time between there and Slate Springs.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife of 4 years, Nancy Ward, his daughter Teresa (Jeff) McNeil of Greenville, TX; 3 grandchildren:Jeffery McNeil of Raleigh, NC, Jimi McNeil of Alden, PA and Becca McNeil of San Marcos, TX; 6 sisters: Pam (Eddie) Helms of Slate Springs, MS, Dianne Daniel (Jan Pannell) of Millington, TN, Jackie (Kevin) Stone of Calhoun City, MS, Rita Willis of Calhoun City, MS, Susie (Kevin) Devine of Kenosha, WI, Kay Fridley of Grenada Hills, CA; 2 brothers: David (Martha) Ward of Memphis, TN, Phil (Patty) Ward of The Colony, TX : the mother of his daughter and lifelong friend, Rebecca Grass of Rockwall, TX and a host of nieces and nephews.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Mary Bryant and Truman Ward and a brother: Jeffery Ward of Kenosha, WI. There will be a catered Celebration of Life on Saturday, May 16, 2026 from 2 until 5 pm at Macedonia Baptist Church in Calhoun City, MS for all family and friends.

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:16-19