Mary Ward Huffman

On October 13, 1934, Mary Ward Huffman was born at the Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC. Seven days later, she and her mother, Margaret, arrived by ambulance at their home on Rivermont Farm near the Yadkin River. She was greeted by her father, Baxter; older sister, Sally; maternal grandfather; and two of her father’s siblings. As she grew up, she announced that she no longer wanted to be called Mary Ward, just Ward because she did not think of herself as a “Mary". Her love for all animals was obvious as goats, dogs and cats became her pets, playmates, and companions helping her develop her love for God’s creation by exploring the outdoors. Ward attended Vienna Elementary School for 8 years then completed her secondary education, graduating from Lewisville High School in the spring of 1953. She was voted Most Athletic Female as well as Most Studious by her senior classmates, who also chose her to write the class prophesy which was printed in the yearbook. If at that time veterinary schools accepted female students, she would have applied. Instead, she pursued a degree in chemistry from the Woman’s College in Greensboro. After graduating in 1957 she began her career as a research chemist in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at Bowman Gray School of Medicine located at Baptist Hospital. A few years later, the Research Triangle Park became her work location and she spent the remaining years of her career there. She resided in Chapel Hill for a few years but later purchased a property in Carrboro where she lived until retiring and moving back home to Lewisville in 1996. Enon Baptist Church welcomed her back and she served in several leadership positions. It was a sad time when Alzheimer’s disease became so debilitating that she could no longer serve as leader of the Adult III Sunday school department. She battled that disease for more than 10 years before her earthly life ended at Mountain Valley Hospice Home in Dobson, NC on Sunday, December 1, 2024. She leaves behind to cherish their 90 years together one sister, Sally Huffman of Lewisville, a dear friend of 67 years, Mrs. Bryan Bumgarner of Cary, NC; 10 first cousins, along with other more distant but special relatives and friends. A visitation will be held from 3-5 PM on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at Hayworth Miller Funeral Home in Lewisville. Funeral services will be conducted by the Reverends Ben Webb and Mark Elmore at Enon Baptist Church at 2:00 o'clock on Thursday, December 5, 2024. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Sally will receive friends in the Family Life Center following the internment. She wishes to express her sincere appreciation to BJ, Nancy, Randy and Debbie, other cousins, as well as Terry, Kay, Tish, the Sunday school class members, her neighbors, and all the Hospice workers who have been so helpful throughout Ward’s illness. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, 945 Zephyr Rd. Dobson, NC 27017.