Martha Anne Hamilton Ward

Mrs. Martha Anne Hamilton Ward, 55, of French Camp, passed away peacefully at home on January 16, 2018. Services were held at 2 pm at French Camp Presbyterian Church with Rev. Nathan Wright and Rev. Doug Atkinson officiating. Burial was in French Camp Cemetery. Visitation was held on Friday evening and also one hour prior to the service. Martha was born August 25, 1962 in East Gary, Indiana to William D. Hamilton, Jr. and Dorothy Trippe Hamilton. She attended Holmes Community College, where she played basketball, and then graduated from Mississippi State University. Martha taught math for 32 years, primarily at French Camp Elementary School, but also at Ethel High School and French Camp Academy. In addition to teaching, she influenced the lives of many young women through coaching girls' basketball and softball at French Camp Academy. She loved playing and watching basketball and loved going to Humphrey Coliseum to cheer on the Lady Bulldogs. She was preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Trippe Hamilton. She is survived by her husband, Tommy Ward; children, Kathy Ward Shields (Walker), Allen Ward (Erin), and Danny Ward; grandchildren, Fears Ward and Flynn Ward; sisters, Heidi Hamilton Brown (Randy), Dana Hamilton, Holly Hamilton Gilbert (Troy), and Jana Hamilton; father, William D. Hamilton, Jr. and stepmother, Susie; mother-in-law, Dixie Ward; and numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces. Pallbearers were Greg LeVert, Rusty McKnight, Larry Littlejohn, Terry Roberts, Bruce Hosket, and David Jones. Honorary pallbearers were Glen Barlow, John R. Cockrell, Stewart Edwards, Alex Lawson, Kevin Sorenson, and Joe Watkins. Memorials may be made to French Camp Academy. Jordan Funeral Home of Kosciusko was in charge of arrangements.