Virginia Evelyn Gilliland Ward, age 99, of Jackson, passed away peacefully Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born Sept. 12, 1920 in Oak Hill, Ohio to the late Roy Bundy Franklin Gilliland and Kate Ruhamah Friend Gilliland.
She attended Lake Hope School and was a member of the Columbia Chapel Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband: John Ward; daughter: Nancy Depue Kille; and siblings: Roy, Delbert, Charles, Paul, Joseph, Ida, Louisa, Elizabeth, Josephine, Sarah, Bessie and Katherine.
She is survived by sons: Roger (Wanda) Gilliland and Steve (Deb) Ward; daughters: Jane (Joe) Rife, Marilyn Foster and Joyce (Paul) Strong; 19 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are several nieces, nephews and many friends who thought of her as their own grandma.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019 at the Mayhew-Brown Funeral Home with Brother Rondall Walker officiating and burial to follow in the Ridgewood Cemetery in Wellston. Family will receive friends Tuesday, Dec. 10 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home and Wednesday from 10 a.m. up to the time of the funeral.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Mayhew-Brown Funeral Home in Jackson. Condolences can be emailed to www.mayhew-brownfuneralhome@frontier.com