Mary Sloan Hawkins Ward passed away on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011 at age 87.
She was the beloved wife of the late Dr. Simon V. Ward; mother of Dr. Simon V. Ward III of Charlotte, N.C., Dr. George L. H. Ward of Pass Christian, Miss., and Lisa Ward Connors of Bronxville, N.Y.; grandmother to Simon V. Ward IV, Gentry Vestal Ward, Skye Alexandra de la Vergne Ward, Scott Ward Connors, Thomas Hawkins Connors, Mary Elisabeth Connors and Grace Bethea Connors.
Originally from Hattiesburg, Miss., Sloan graduated from Sweet Briar College in 1944. After attending graduate school at the School of Advanced International Studies, a branch of Johns Hopkins University, she moved to New Orleans, where she worked as director of admissions for Newcomb College until she married Dr. Simon Ward in October 1952.
Sloan embraced her adopted city, working as a tour guide in the French Quarter, Greater New Orleans and the River Road, where she shared her knowledge of Louisiana history and New Orleans folklore with out-of-town tourists. She was active in many New Orleans clubs and organizations. She served as president of the Orleans Club from 1979-1981 and was a member of Le Petit Salon, the Quarante Club and the St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Sloan and Simon moved to Tryon Estates in Columbus in 1994, where Sloan continued her involvement by volunteering at St Luke’s Hospital.
A memorial service will be held at Tryon Estates on Nov. 19 at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Ochsner Baptist Medical Center, 1514 Jefferson Hwy, BH 240, New Orleans, La. 70121 or to the North Carolina Library for the Blind (NCLBPH), 1841 Capital Blvd., Raleigh, N.C. 27635.
An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.
McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon.