Iris Anne Frazier Ward

“Loving wife, mother of two, teacher of many…”
 
Iris Anne Frazier was born in Bonifay, Florida on September 27, 1932, the second of four children of Eddie Martin Frazier, Sr. and Orabel Johnson Frazier. Soon after birth, the family moved to the hometown of her parents, Sparta, Hancock County, Georgia where she was raised on the family farm. Her daily farm chores instilled in her at a young age a strong work ethic, a trait she carried with her through life.
 
Iris was the Valedictorian of the 1949 graduating class at Sparta High School, and furthered her education at Georgia State College for Women, presently Georgia College and State University. After receiving her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Education from GSCW in 1952, she accepted a teaching position at Elberton High School and would soon call Elberton home. Mrs. Ward retired after some forty-one years of touching the lives of Elberton’s youth. She taught at Elberton High, Nancy Hart, Stillwell, Samuel Elbert Academy, and Beaverdam, where she was awarded Teacher of the Year.
 
It wasn’t long until she met and fell in love with George Addicus Ward, Jr., and proudly became his wife on June 7, 1953. They were just shy of celebrating fifty-six years of marriage at the time of his death on February 4, 2009.
 
George and Iris settled in George’s home community of Fortsonia, a place she would grow to love and call home for the next sixty-seven years. She was an active member of Eliam United Methodist Church where she was involved with the Primetime Adults and the church choir. Iris formerly served as a Sunday School Teacher, SPR Chair, church treasurer, and MYF Advisor. Mrs. Ward was awarded 1964 Elbert County Homemaker of the Year, and was also a long-time member of Beta Sigma Phi.
 
After retirement, she enjoyed travelling, reading, and working in her garden. Above all, her favorite title in life was “Meme”, and she always looked forward to cooking Sunday lunch for her family.

The family wishes to extend their greatest appreciate to her caretaker, Lizzie Tate, and the entire staff at Magnolia Estates Retirement Center for the care Miss Iris received while staying there.
 
Mrs. Ward passed away peacefully at Elbert Memorial Hospital on November 28, 2020, with her daughter and long time doctor and friend, Dan McAvoy, at her side. She was eighty-eight.
 
She leaves behind her daughter, Nancy and Larry Bessinger of Elberton; son, George A., III and Youngae Ward of Winder; granddaughter: Corrie and Brett Padgett of Elberton; great-grandsons: Cooper and Brooks Padgett of Elberton; sisters-in-law, Mary B. Munnel of Athens and Betty Frazier of Fayetteville; and numerous nieces and nephews.
 
In addition to her parents and husband, she is preceded in death by her siblings: Edna and Thomas MacMurain, Eddie M., Jr. and Carol Frazier, and Robert Daniel Frazier.
 
Funeral services honoring and celebrating the life of Iris Ward will be held on Wednesday, December 2, at 2 o’clock at Eliam United Methodist Church with the Revs. Teresa Lilja and Emily Case Whiten officiating. Mrs. Ward will lie instate for one hour prior to the service.
 
Interment will follow in Forest Hills Memorial Park with Ben Smith, David Hudson, Liam Madden, Rodgers Frazier, Brett Padgett, Jack Dye, James Lee Bailey, and Tom McCall honored as pallbearers. Cooper and Brooks Padgett will serve as honorary pallbearers.
 
The family will receive friends at Berry Funeral Home from 6:00-8:00p.m. on Tuesday, December 1. At other hours the family will be at the home of Larry and Nancy Bessinger, 2437 Chastain Road, Elberton.

Social distancing and mask wearing is requested.
 
Flowers are accepted and contributions may be made in her memory to Eliam United Methodist Church, c/o Ken Taylor, 1969 Rousey Road, Elberton, GA 30635.
 
Those wishing may sign the online guestbook at www.berryfh.com.

Berry Funeral Home & Crematory of Elberton is respectfully in charge of arrangements for Iris Anne Frazier Ward.