Gayle Humphries Ward
February 1, 1937 — May 13, 2016
Gayle Humphries Ward, 79, of Phenix City, AL died Friday, May 13, 2016 at Columbus Hospice House.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Edgewood Baptist Church 3564 Forrest Rd. Columbus, GA 31907 with Rev. David Howle officiating. Interment will be held at Parkhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Ms. Humphries was a loving mother and grandmother. Her heart's passion was always with her family during her life. Her dance career was also her passion. She began dance lessons at age two. She opened her first dancing school at age 19 in Columbus, GA. Gayle enjoyed sharing the story of receiving a call from her dad while she was studying dance in New York City. He told her that he had purchased a building on Britt Avenue in Columbus and she needed to come home and get her Dance Studio set up for business. He did not like the idea of his baby being in New York! Through the years she taught dance to 1000's of dance students in the states of Georgia, Alabama and even in California. She was a lifetime member of Edgewood Baptist Church where she also taught Sunday School for many years. She volunteered many hours to support the Ronald McDonald House and the Columbus Ledger Christmas Help program.
Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, James Irving Humprhies, Jr. and Willard Hubert Humphries, as well as by her former husband and father of her children, James William Ward, Sr.
Survivors include her sons, James William Ward, Jr. "Jim" (Jennifer) of Ellerslie, GA and Jeffrey Wayne Ward, Sr. "Jeff" (Candy) of Acworth, GA, daughter, Jennifer Wynn Ward Page of Phenix City, AL, grandchildren, Townes McGehee Ward Borum, Kaitlynn Kellum Ward Griffith (Zack) Jeffrey Wayne Ward, Jr. (Robin), Alissa Blair Ward (Michael Hudson), James William Ward, III "Will", Charles Chappell Ward "Charlie", and Kevin Ward Page. Her legacy is sure to continue through the lives of her great grandchildren, Turner Kellum Griffith, Zachary Freeman Woodall Griffith, Ries McGehee Borum, and Mollie Meadows McInvale . She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and longtime friend and companion, Billy McKenzie.
The family wishes to offer a heart-felt thank you to Shirley Dewhart for her special dedication and loving care that she provided for Gayle.
The family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Gayle Humphries Dance Scholarship, c/o CSU Foundation, 4225 University Avenue, Columbus, GA 31907; or the Alzheimer's Association, 5156 River Road, Columbus, GA 31904
3874 Gentian Blvd Post Office Box 7907
Columbus, GA, 31908
Columbus, GA
Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Edgewood Baptist Church 3564 Forrest Rd. Columbus, GA 31907 with Rev. David Howle officiating. Interment will be held at Parkhill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory 3874 Gentian Blvd. Columbus, GA 31907.
Ms. Humphries was a loving mother and grandmother. Her heart's passion was always with her family during her life. Her dance career was also her passion. She began dance lessons at age two. She opened her first dancing school at age 19 in Columbus, GA. Gayle enjoyed sharing the story of receiving a call from her dad while she was studying dance in New York City. He told her that he had purchased a building on Britt Avenue in Columbus and she needed to come home and get her Dance Studio set up for business. He did not like the idea of his baby being in New York! Through the years she taught dance to 1000's of dance students in the states of Georgia, Alabama and even in California. She was a lifetime member of Edgewood Baptist Church where she also taught Sunday School for many years. She volunteered many hours to support the Ronald McDonald House and the Columbus Ledger Christmas Help program.
Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, James Irving Humprhies, Jr. and Willard Hubert Humphries, as well as by her former husband and father of her children, James William Ward, Sr.
Survivors include her sons, James William Ward, Jr. "Jim" (Jennifer) of Ellerslie, GA and Jeffrey Wayne Ward, Sr. "Jeff" (Candy) of Acworth, GA, daughter, Jennifer Wynn Ward Page of Phenix City, AL, grandchildren, Townes McGehee Ward Borum, Kaitlynn Kellum Ward Griffith (Zack) Jeffrey Wayne Ward, Jr. (Robin), Alissa Blair Ward (Michael Hudson), James William Ward, III "Will", Charles Chappell Ward "Charlie", and Kevin Ward Page. Her legacy is sure to continue through the lives of her great grandchildren, Turner Kellum Griffith, Zachary Freeman Woodall Griffith, Ries McGehee Borum, and Mollie Meadows McInvale . She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and longtime friend and companion, Billy McKenzie.
The family wishes to offer a heart-felt thank you to Shirley Dewhart for her special dedication and loving care that she provided for Gayle.
The family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Gayle Humphries Dance Scholarship, c/o CSU Foundation, 4225 University Avenue, Columbus, GA 31907; or the Alzheimer's Association, 5156 River Road, Columbus, GA 31904
Visitation
MAY 16. 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (EDT)
McMullen Funeral Home3874 Gentian Blvd Post Office Box 7907
Columbus, GA, 31908
Funeral Service
MAY 17. 11:00 AM (EDT)
Edgewood Baptist ChurchColumbus, GA
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gayle Humphries Ward, please visit our flower store.