You can become a member, create a memorial, submit data, add flowers, add photos and search our database at no charge. Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist - East Chapel, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Her 1972 album Uplifting on United Artists, produced by Nikolas Venet and Sam Alexander, included an interpretation of Bill Wither's pop hit "Lean On Me" and a rearrangement of the Soul Stirrer's 1950's recording of "Thank You, Jesus". Share Your Memories and Sympathies and Join the Bereaved! In 1958, the bottom fell out of the church music circuit, and a revamped incarnation of the group took up the nightclub circuit, playing Las Vegas and even Disneyland, much to the dismay of gospel traditionalists who were already skeptical of the groups flamboyant performance style. Clara Mae Ward [1] (April 21, 1924 - January 16, 1973) [4] [5] was an American gospel singer who achieved great artistic and commercial success during the 1940s and 1950s, as leader of The Famous Ward Singers. Together they formed the Stars of Faith, who recorded albums for Savoy and Vee-Jay before Williams left in 1965 to launch a solo career. Sysoon is a free resource for finding the final resting places of famous folks, friends and family members and contains listings for thousands of celebrity graves, making it the premier online destination for tombstone tourists. To complete their dramatic image, they often wore coiffured wigs. The group also recorded over the years as Clara Ward and the Ward Singers. Claras distinctive arrangement of the traditional hymn How I Got Over, recorded in 1950 for Gotham, was soon successfully covered by Mahalia Jackson for Apollo Records in New York. What is Fold3. The Clara Ward Singers recorded an album together on the Verve label, V-5019, The Heart, The Faith, The Soul of Clara Ward, and the Ward Singers performed their music live in Philadelphia with the city's Symphony and the Golden Voices Ensemble. Address and location of Clara Ward which have been published. Tags: gravesite, grave, cemetery, crematorium, funeral, genealogy, memorial, burial place, flowers, urn, cremation, remains, funeral, family tree, candles, sympathy gift, photo album, tombstone, headstone, death, dead people, past, find a grave, cemetery location, locate a grave, grave locator, missing, missing people, missing persons, wanted, most wanted, lost people, dead parents, dead childrens, brother, daughter, ancestry. In 1950, Clara Ward and the Famous Ward Singers of Philadelphia made their first appearance at Carnegie Hall in New York City on a gospel program titled Negro Music Festival, produced by gospel music pioneer Joe Bostic. Enjoy free access to the most up-to-date SSDI search for individuals with International Social Security numbers. In turn, she greatly influenced the young Aretha Franklin, with whose father, the Reverend C.L. She was born in Waycross, Ga., on March 8, 1939, daughter of the late Rilla Mims Jenkins Young and King David Jenkins. contributor's website. Other survivors include several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Her positive influence touched many people through the years. Clara grew to love the Lord at an early age. She also has 3 great grandchildren, Caleb Johnson, of Oak Hill, Alex and Kayla Johnson, of Milwaukee, WI. (Olson) Kenneth Wells, choir director, announcer, preacher, and : Highway to Heaven Broadcast Ministries program, 1990, : Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, 1990, : Obsequies of Reverend Arthur Altas Peters, Victory Baptist Church, Sept. 30, 1975, : Voices of Victory Choir financial and membership report, Victory Baptist Church, 1970. : Too close to heaven; I don't care what the world may do : Resolution letter and envelope, Victory Baptist Church, 1980, : The heart, the faith, the soul of Clara Ward, ca. [60126146-en], A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, respecting, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Two of their songsSurely God Is Able and Move Up a Little Higher, both released by Gotham that yearbecame major gospel hits, said to have sold more than a million copies each. Pallbearers will be, Timothy Johnson, Clayton Ward, Mark Dick, Michael Dick, David Evans and Howie Wingrove. Clara Mae Ward, daughter of evangelist Gertrude Ward, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in April of 1924. Clara Ward & The Famous Ward Singers In 1931, seven-year-old Clara Ward and her nine-year-old sister Willarene (better known as "Willa") began performing with their mother, Gertrude, in Philadelphia. Three days later, Tills body was discovered and retrieved from the river. Clara Mae Ward (April 21, 1924 - January 16, 1973) was an American gospel artist who achieved great artistic and commercial success during the 1940s and 1950s, as leader of The Famous Ward Singers. Clara continued to perform at her mother's church, the Miracle Temple of Faith for All People in Los Angeles, California, as well as at Victory Baptist Church. Share Your Memories and Sympathies and Join the . One of Clara's best hymns accompanied by pictures of her with Marion Williams and her companion, Rev. My condolences to my erie family sorry i can not be there. . To obtain an actual death certificate (and not just the index) for persons dying in Los Angeles County after July 1, 1905, contact the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, 12400 E. Imperial Hwy, Norwalk, CA 90650. You can even leave 'virtual flowers' on the memorials you visit to complete the online cemetery experience. Ward's mother, Gertrude Mae Ward (ne Murphy;[1] 19011981), founded the Ward Singers in 1931 as a family group, then called, variously, The Consecrated Gospel Singers or The Ward Trio, consisting of herself, her youngest daughter Clara, and her elder daughter, Willarene Mae ("Willa"). Institution: University of Southern California Digital Library. What is Archives, Military records of Clara Ward at Fold3.com. 1911,
In July 1998, in recognition of her status, the United States Postal Service issued a 32-cent stamp with her image. Finally, Jan. 16, 1973, at the age of 48, she was dead. She was also the play's musical director. Look below the item for additional data you may want to include. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 9:30- 10:30 am Monday. Clara Bell Ward, 80 years old of Oak Hill passed away on Wednesday, May 12, 2010. ", My lovely aunt Clara me and the kids are very upset but our family is strong. Her former group members, known as the Stars of Faith, were featured along with Hughes in the first gospel stage play on Broadway, and the first play to feature an all-Black cast on Broadway Hughes musical play, The Black Nativity.. Ways to honor Clara Ward's life and legacy. Clara Ward has records at: 74730, United States. SO PRAISE GOD FOR HER LEGACY THAT WILL LIVE ON IN ERIE, AND, THROUGHOUT THIS WORLD. Particularly through her work with young couples at Brainerd Baptist Church, and the children at Bethel Bible Village, two of whom adopted the Wards for parental guidance. Clara Ward was born on April 21, 1924 (to January 16, 1973). Read our full statement and check out our toolkit to #StopHIVTogether here: https://l8r.it/HnSa, Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union-Wade advocates for Black trans rights at NAACP Image Awards To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Clara Ward please visit our. Clara Ward was influenced early in life by gospel singers Queen C. Anderson and Clara The Georgia Peach Hudman. Recommend Clara's obituary to your friends. We are amplifying the voices and experiences of people who have been criminalized based on their HIV status. She attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Clara was a lifelong member of the First Brethren Church of Oak Hill. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. "Another earth angel chosen for God's highest heaven. The addition of Marion Williams, who arose of the Miami, Florida Pentecostal tradition brought to the group a powerful singer with a preternaturally broad range, able to reach the highest registers of the soprano range without losing either purity or volume, with the added ability to descend "growling low notes" in the style of a country preacher. Miss Ward, leader of the Clara Ward Singers, had been in a coma at U.C.L.A. They were in constant demand on American television programs and appeared on The Mike Douglas Show over a dozen times. She died at home with her family by her side, due to complications from Alzheimers. It had earlier built and sold plants in Louisiana and Kentucky. A true blessing to the Erie community. You have funeral questions, we have answers. The Miltone recordings were purchased in a multi-artist package by Gotham Record Company, which had moved to Philadelphia. Though Ward did not regularly sing secular music as a soloist or with her groups, she did sing backup for pop artists with her sister Willas background group, most notably on Dee Dee Sharps hit, Mashed Potato Time, which reached the top of Billboards pop chart in 1962. Congratulations to our friend, Dr. Bill Ferris. [more about funeral], Clara Ward at Archives.com. She also recorded an album for MGM/Verve, Hang Your Tears out to Dry, which included country and western, blues/folk, pop, and an arrangement of the Beatles hit song, Help., Wards 1972 album, Uplifting on United Artists, included her stunning interpretation of Bill Withers pop hit Lean On Me, and a rearrangement of The Soul Stirrers 1950s recording of Thank You, Jesus. Because she was under exclusive contract to United Artists at this time, Ward provided vocals for a Canned Heats album New Age, on the ballad Looking For My Rainbow.. You know, if anybody asked her for anything she would give it. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. 2019 Malaco Record Group. With Clara as lead singer and arranger, the Famous Ward Singers not only defined the female Gospel sound but set about establishing the demeanor of the female group in performance, gospel historian Horace Clarence Boyer wrote in his forward to Willa Wards 1997 book How I Got Over: Clara Ward and the World-Famous Ward Singers. [en] Vital records: Clara E Ward at +Archives + Follow. Join a discussion and talk to others in the Sysoon community. They even toured for six weeks as an opening act for comedian Jack Benny. Clara was the beloved mother of two daughters, Cynthia Ward-Moore and Claritha "ReRe" Meyers both of Erie; and two sons, Donald Ward (Marilyn) of Buffalo, N.Y. and Bennie Ward of Erie. Memorials are rich with content, including dates, photos and bios. 12626 Woods Avenue. Funeral industry and Genealogy directory. THANKSGIVING SHE GAVE AWAY TURKEYS CHRISTMAS TIME SHE GAVE AWAY TOYS TO NEEDY CHILDREN. They appeared on Oral Roberts' Country Roads TV special, later released as a soundtrack album. Sexually abused in childhood by a cousin, and relentlessly driven as prime breadwinner by her mother throughout her life, Wards life was one of constant work and little joy. The Ward Singers began touring nationally in 1943, following a memorable appearance at the National Baptist Convention held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, earlier that year. Price $1.00. Attention: Death verified by Social security index. In addi Singer Clara Ward at Dinah Washington's Funeral - Jet Magazine, January 2, 1964 Click the three dots button below and to the right and then click "all sizes" to read an article or to see the image clearly. Gertrude first called the group "The Consecrated Gospel Singers," then simply "The Ward Trio." This memorial website was created in memory of Clara Ward, 85, born on September14, 1911 and passed away on April2, 1997. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. A gifted singer and arranger, Ward adopted the lead-switching style, previously used primarily by male gospel quartets, creating opportunities for spontaneous improvization and vamping by each member of the group, while giving virtuoso singers such as Marion Williams the opportunity to perform the lead vocal in songs such as "Surely, God Is Able" (among the first million-selling gospel hits), "How I Got Over" and "Packin' Up". Death record, obituary, funeral notice and information about the deceased person. Clara Thompson Ward of Chattanooga passed from this life on Monday, June 23, 2014. Williams' singing style helped make the group nationally popular when they began recording in 1948. Clara was born in Salem, Ohio on July 19, 1930 to Paul and Margaret (McClish) Franklin. Emmett Louis Till (July 25, 1941 August 28, 1955) was an African-American teenager who was murdered in Mississippi at the age of 14 after reportedly flirting with a white woman. As gospel music grew in popularity in the first half of the twentieth century, Ward started singing professionally, first with her mother and her sister Willa as The Ward Trio. . Her remains rest at High Lawn Funeral Home Chapel 1435 E. Main St. Oak Hill, where the funeral service will be held 12pm Saturday with Rev. Following the explosion in popularity of the blues, ragtime and jazz following World War I, gospel found an eager audience in Black churches throughout the South and Midwest. Funeral services will be held Monday, June 30, 2014 at 10:30 am at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home. They shared the stage with Mahalia Jackson, and appeared at Carnegie Hall on Bostics program again in 1952. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. Vol. Ward welcomed thousands to see her home ten years ago during an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. According to Willa Ward's biography of Clara Ward, with the exception of Gertrude and Clara, Willa and other members of the group were grossly underpaid. This can be a wonderful, heartwarming experience for all. Funeral industry and Genealogy directory. Mrs. Ward was a member of Brainerd Baptist Church where, for many years, she served in the Young Adults Sunday School Department and as secretary of the Women of Missions, The Senior Adults of the church will always remember with fondness Claras generosity in providing a 46 passenger bus which is still used primarily for travel by the group, known as the Keenagers. The trial attracted a vast amount of press attention. Burial will follow in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill. View our statement on digital primary resources. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. Military records of Clara Ward at Fold3.com, a free resource for finding the final resting places, listings for thousands of celebrity graves. If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. 1966. C. L. Franklin sang at her funeral in Philadelphia; Marion Williams performed at her second memorial service held days later in Los Angeles, California. A gifted singer and arranger, Ward took the lead-switching style used by male gospel quartets to new heights, leaving room for spontaneous improvisation and vamping by each member of the group while giving virtuoso singers such as Marion Williams the opportunity to step forward in songs such as Surely, God Is Able, which was among the first million-selling gospel hits, Packin Up, and How I Got Over, which she wrote, and was one of the most famous songs in the Black gospel repertoire. Gotham billed them as The Famous Ward Singers (of Philadelphia) and the name stuck, albeit without the name of the city. Write a brief biography of the deceased and present it to the world. RE: Calisphere: Request high-resolution copy of item for Clara Ward, 1925-1973: memorial tribute (Gospel News Journal, v. 8, no. Financial hardships caused her and her family to move 19 times before her adulthood. Tills murder is noted as a pivotal event motivating the African-American Civil Rights Movement. Malacos Former Employee Bill Isaacs Has Passed Away. Clara Ward died on Monday after fighting different illnesses for years. Her mother, Gertrude Ward, also had a popular religious radio program in the Los Angeles market. Clara Ward, age 80, of Erie, passed away Monday, August 26, 2019. Published by Erie Times-News on Aug. 29, 2019. Clara and Clifton were active in Chattanooga business, charitable and civic life for more than 50 years. Miami-born Marion Williams (19271994) also influenced well-known musicians, particularly gospel great Alex Bradford and rock n roll pioneer Little Richard, both of whom emulated her high-pitched woos.. Although Clara eloped as a teenager (at age 17 in 1941), her mother forced her to tour, and the strain caused the always frail Clara to have a miscarriage; her marriage ended after only one year. In 1977, Ward was honored posthumously at the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City and her surviving sister, Willa, accepted the award in her honor. What is Fold3. In her biography of Clara, her sister Willa attests that Gertrude worked to prevent Clara from forming any romantic attachments. 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