George William Ward

George William Ward, age 84, passed away on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 athis residence. He was the husband of Anne Greenway Ward for 64 years and the father of Donna Ward (Jim) Stallings of White Plains, Georgia and Lynne Ward (Walt) Seeger of Waynesboro, Georgia. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2010, at 2PM at the Elberton First Baptist Church with Reverend Gary Purvis and Reverend Ken Whitfield officiating. Burial will follow in Elmhurst Cemetery. Visitation will from 6-8PM Friday, January 1, 2009 at Hicks Funeral Home. He was the son of the late Ike Swift Ward and Hettie Teasley Ward of the Rock Branch Community. He is preceded in death by an infant son, two sisters, and three brothers. Ward retired as Chief of Police after a 41 year career with the Elberton Police Department. He was a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Washington, DC; Special Police Management and Traffic Institute, Northwestern University; Law Enforcement and Peace Officers Training Program, University of Georgia. Mr. Ward was appointed to the Georgia Crime Information Council as a representative of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police of Governors Carter, Busby, and Miller, serving from 1973 to 1993. He served on the board of directors of the Northeast Georgia Police Academy and the Northeast Georgia Criminal Justice Advisory Council. Ward was the last remaining charter member of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. He served as President and in many other capacities and was awarded the “Outstanding Chief” award at the association’s annual conference in 1976. Upon his retirement, Chief Ward obtained the distinction of being the longest tenured Police Chief in the United States. He was proud of his work in improving training for small town police departments and increasing training opportunities for Chiefs throughout the state. He was recently honored for his “commitment and dedication to the City of Elberton” by the naming of the newly renovated Police Department of him. Mr. Ward was a longtime member and deacon of the Elberton First Baptist Church and was a member and former President of the Elberton Kiwanis Club. He was presented Kiwanis’ highest honor, the George F. Hixon Fellowship Award, on the 80th anniversary of the club. In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by grandchildren, Melissa Donna Argo, George Martin Neal, Claudia Anne Seeger, Walter Rhodes (Tina) Seeger, Jr., and Joshua James (April) Stallings; great grandchildren, William Baxter Argo, Bryce Anne Argo, Dustin Andrew Neal, Mason James Stallings, and Rebecca Claire Seeger; and sister-in-law, Agnes Ward. Many nieces, nephews, and other relatives also survive. Pallbearers will include Jack Fricks, Charles Hill, John Hubbard, Rod McCarty, Marion McMullan, Billy Webb, Dr. Jack Wheeler, and Dan White. Honorary pallbearers will include the Elberton First Baptist Church Victory Sunday School Class members, and past and present officers and staff of the Elberton Police Department. If so desired, memorials may be made to The Leukemia Lymphoma Society at 3715 Northside Parkway, 400 Northcreek, Suite 300, Atlanta, Georgia 30327, or to the Elberton First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 750, Elberton, Georgia 30635. Hicks Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for Mr. George William Ward.