Essie Mae Graves Ward

March 15, 1917 - December 30, 2013

Essie Mae Graves Ward, 96, of Port Arthur, passed away on Monday, December 30, 2013 at the Medical Center of Southeast Texas. She was born on March 15, 1917 to Mary Teal Eddlemon and Elijah Eddlemon in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. She lived most of her life in Port Arthur. Essie was a devout member of the Baptist faith and devoted homemaker, loving wife, mother and grandmother and great grandmother, great-great grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents, her two sister and five brothers, her two sons, Ralph and Ronald Graves, her daughter, Pamela Graves, her granddaughter, Melissa Johnson and her husband, Vernon Graves. She is survived by her husband, Clifton Ward of Port Arthur, Texas, daughter, Patricia Graves of Port Arthur, Texas, son, Roger Graves of Port Arthur, Texas, step-sons, Tony Ward of Florida, James Ward of Daneville, Mississippi and Ricky Ward of Florida, daughter-in-law, Linda Graves of Nederland, Texas, Eleven Grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Visitation will be on Thursday, January 2, 2013 from 12 Noon till 2:00 PM with the Service to follow at 2:00 PM at Clayton Thompson Funeral Home. Dr. Rick Erwin will officiate the service. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park.