Selma “Ma” Trogdon Ward Obituary

Selma “Ma” Trogdon Ward, 91, widow of John “Pa” Wesley Ward, Sr., passed away Tuesday, September 26, 2017.  Born in High Point, N.C., she was a resident of Hampton, Va. for 52 years before moving to Darlington Heights, Va. in 2007.  She was a member of Fox Hill Central United Methodist Church in Hampton prior to moving to Darlington Heights with her son and daughter-in-law.  She worked as the bookkeeper for her husband’s Kirby Company and Hampton Paint Manufacturing Company.  She then was the Deputy Treasurer for the City of Hampton and finally worked as the bookkeeper in her son’s law office.

Selma and John promoted Southern gospel music throughout their lives, hosting the original Oak Ridge Boys, J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet, and many others for more than fifty years in the Tidewater area.

Surviving are her son, John W. Ward, Jr. and her daughter-in-law Pat, both of whom she was enormously proud, and who continue her legacy of love, and her husband’s legacy of affording a smile every day to folks who need one.

A graveside service will be conducted 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 7, 2017 at Parklawn Memorial Park, Hampton, Va.  The family wishes in lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to Centra Hospice of Farmville, 1705 E. 3rd Street, Farmville, Va.  23901.

Arrangements are by R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, 245 S. Armistead Ave. in Hampton, 757-825-8070, www.rhaydensmith.com.