Mrs. Nina Pearl Gill Ward

Nina Pearl Gill Ward, age 87, passed away on October 15, 2016 after a lengthy struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Visitation will be 9-11am on Monday, October 17th, 2016 with a Funeral Service to begin at 11am at Chancellor Funeral Home in Byram, MS. Interment will follow in Rosemont Gardens Cemetery. One of eight children of Frank and Eliza Gill, she grew up in Puckett, Mississippi, and moved to Jackson in the mid-1950’s. She and her twin sister, Merle, were employed at the Heidelberg Hotel Coffee Shop, the beginning of her career as a waitress. After LeFleur’s Restaurant in north Jackson opened she worked there for many years and became one of the most requested waitresses because of here caring personality and attention to detail. She was honored by have one of the most popular dishes on the menu renamed, “Snapper Steak Nina.” In 1973 she married James Ward, Executive Vice President of Taylor Machine Works in Louisville, Mississippi. For the next twenty-plus years they resided in Louisville, where she became active in the community and church. An avid gardener, she also took up quilting as a hobby, winning several awards and becoming in demand for her quilting. Her philosophy, whether working in a restaurant, raising a family or creating a quilt was simple: “Always do the best you can with whatever is presented to you.” She was preceded in death by her husband, James M. Ward, and is survived by her children Phil Hardwick (Carol), Nelda Rushing (Travis), grandchildren Mark Parks (Theresa), Tammy Young (Dale), Kimber Burgess (Matt), Clay Hardwick and numerous great grandchildren. The family offers sincere thanks to the caring staffs of Mississippi Baptist Medical Center and Hardy Wilson Memorial Hospital. Appreciation is also extended to sitters Vera Smith and Shelia Weathersby. Memorials may be made to the New Zion Baptist Church Building Fund in Crystal Springs, Mississippi.