Larry M. Ward

Augusta, GA – Larry M. Ward, 74, loving  husband of 43 years to Kaye Ward, and devoted father to Jennifer “Jenny” Ward, entered into rest on Monday, January 1, 2024. He was a native Augustan and attended school in Evans after his family moved to Martinez, He attended First Baptist Church of Augusta.

Larry was predeceased by his parents: Julian “Yankee” Ward and Joyce Ward Miller, and a son: Mark P. Ward from a previous marriage. In addition to his wife and daughter, Larry is survived by his sister: Judy Farmer (Bill), North Augusta, SC; his brother: George Ward (Pam), Johns Creek, GA; his aunt: Martha Strasser, Evans, GA and his four-legged companion, Tucker, plus a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.

As did his father and other family members, Larry had Polycystic Kidney Disease and in 2004, he received a kidney from Kaye. They felt very blessed that they “matched” well enough making the transplant possible and it was still viable 19 years later at the time of his death.

Larry was a self-starter and a diligent worker. At a young age, he started his own business, Grasshopper Landscaping Company. During that time, he was heavily involved with the landscaping of new developments on Hilton Head Island. In 1979, he was hired at the Medical College of Georgia as a department head in the Facilities Management Division, where he retired 31 years later as the Landscaping and Grounds Superintendent. Following his MCG retirement, he worked part-time for three years at the Episcopal Day School as Director of Facilities.

Larry was a past Chairman of the Georgia Green Industry Association, as well as Past President of the Landscape Division of GGIA. He was a Past President of the Georgia Association of Landscape Professionals and he served on the Board of Directors of the Professional Grounds Maintenance Society. In 1991, he received the Jake Tinga (UGA Professor) Distinguished Service Award.

For many years, Larry enjoyed catching and frying fish for family and friends, even though he didn’t eat them. When he and Kaye married, he learned to camp, although he said he never would unless a hotel was built at Pollards Corner. They enjoyed many years of deer hunting, fishing, and boating with friends at Clarks Hill. Later his passion was cooking on the Big Green Egg, and the family cooked and shared recipes at the annual EGGTOBERFEST in and around the Atlanta area. There he made many longtime “Egghead” friends from around the country. The Big Green Egg Company management would send him prototypes of new accessories they had developed for him to test them before they went to market. He was once written up in the Columbia County Magazine and referred to as the “Eggspert” of Augusta. He organized several small Eggfests for local businesses in the area who were distributors for the Big Green Egg Company.

Larry also had a passion for Collecting Indian Artifacts. He spent many weekends “digging” with one of his best friends, Wendell Stinchcomb. He researched and studied every book he could find about the Creek Indians and enjoyed sharing what he learned with others.

A visitation will be held on Monday, January 8, 2024 from 4:00  until 6:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Road, Augusta, GA. A private burial will take place in the Memorial Garden at First Baptist Church of Augusta with Dr. Rodger Murchison and Dr. Will Dyer officiating.

The family would like to thank Regency Hospice, especially Alayna Robertson, nurse, for her kind and competent care of Larry since his stroke and Dr. Laura Mulloy, Chief of the Division of Nephrology, and staff who took excellent care of him for the past 19 years.

In lieu of flowers, and if so desired, donations may be made in memory of Larry Ward to the Kidney & Pancreas Transplant Patient Assistance Fund and mailed to the Augusta University Foundation, 1120 15^th Street, AD-1104, Augusta, GA 30912 or to the First Baptist Church of Augusta, Benevolence Fund, 3500 Walton Way Extension, Augusta, GA 30909.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484.