Mr. Clifford Ward

Statesboro, Georgia Mr. Clifford Ward, age 66, passed away Tuesday, June 3, 2025. He was born on November 16, 1958 and he was the first child born to Dunbar and Mary Lois Ward Clifford joined Johnson Grove Missionary Baptist Church at a very young age. He was ordained as a Junior Deacon in 1976 under the guidance of late Rev. J. W. H. Thomas, Jr. He continued his spiritual growth under the guidance of the Reverend Maurice Hill. He received his formal education in the Bulloch County School System and was a graduate of the Statesboro High School Bicentennial Class of 1976 and he attended South Georgia College. In his youth, Clifford was an extremely versatile athlete. He played baseball and football, but he truly excelled in baseball. Collegiately, he played third base and batted cleanup for the South Georgia College Tigers (Now Hawks). His exploits in the field and at the plate helped lead the Tigers to the 1978 Region 17 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) State Championship. After his collegiate play, he became a prolific softball player on the semi-professional level for the Lighthouse Softball Team based in Stone Mountain, GA. He then transferred his sporting abilities into coaching at the little league level as a baseball and football coach. He was known as a disciplinarian who conveyed the fundamentals of both sports. Clifford married Elizabeth Lynette Smith in 1983. To this union three children were born. He was the father to two children prior to marriage. He was preceded in death by his sister, Glen Colbert. Those left to mourn his passing include his parents, Dunbar and Mary Lois Ward, four children: Shalone Atwater-Water of Shorter, AL, Rico Mikell of Statesboro, GA, Eric (Ciahetta) Ward of Conyers, GA., Jasmine Nicole Ward of Stone Mountain, GA., and two grandchildren, Shalynn and Legend. His siblings include Sandra Bennett of Atlanta, GA, Edward (Carolyn) Davis of Austin, Texas, Patricia Woodard of Alamo, GA., Allen (Josie) Ward of Jonesboro, GA., Charles (Cheryle) Ward of Douglasville, GA., Linda Ward of Stone Mountain, GA., and sister-in-law Twela Edwards of Union Hall, Virginia. A Celebration of Life Service for Mr. Clifford Ward will be held at 11 A.M. on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at the Johnson Grove Missionary Baptist Church with the Rev. S. Maurice Hill, Pastor, Officiating. Services may be via-live streamed at our Hill's Mortuary, Inc. Facebook page or http://www.youtube.com/@ccphotographyandmediaprodu2575 Final rites have been entrusted to Hill's Mortuary, Inc.

Mr. Clifford Ward

November 16, 1958 - June 3, 2025