Patricia T. Ward "Judy"

Patricia Thelma Ward passed away in her sleep in Laurel, Maryland on Friday, January 4, 2019.  She was 79.

She was born on July 5, 1939 in Jersey City, New Jersey to parents John Melvin, Sr. and Lillian Melvin.  he graduated from Weehawken High School where she excelled academically.

Patricia married Leinster Henry Ward of Durham, North Carolina on March 11, 1960 in Washington, D.C., and raised two sons. They remained married for 57 years until her husband’s passing in December 2017. 

She worked as a bank teller and customer service rep for over 20 years at banks Eastern Liberty, National Permanent and CitiCorp in Washington, D.C. She was affectionately called “Judy” by her family, and was known for her warm, loving heart. She was truly selfless, always putting the wants and needs of family above her own. She was an excellent cook, and loved home decorating. She was an avid reader, who especially loved reading Agatha Christie crime novels, as well as watching detective TV shows like Law and Order. She loved listening to music, with Lionel Richie and Shirley Horn as some of her favorites.

Survivors include: her sons Leinster Jr and Christopher Ward, granddaughters Elaina Cartagena, Shari and Ashley Ward, great-granddaughters Julyssa and Aaliyah Cartagena, sisters Joan McCurry and Karen Downey, nieces Meredith Downey and Dana Brunson, and nephew James Downey Jr. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Lillian Melvin, her husband Leinster Ward Sr., and her brother John Melvin Jr. Family will receive friends on Saturday, January 12, 2019 from 10am to 11am at Beall Funeral Home, 6512 NW Crain Hwy., Bowie, MD where a funeral service will take place at 11am.