CHALKHEAD COMMUNITY…Mrs. Sue Outlaw Ward, a resident of the Chalkhead Community, near Ozark, died late Tuesday evening, September 1, 2026, at her home. She was 83.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Sunday, September 6, 2026, in Chalkhead Baptist Church with Chaplain Adam Mulliner officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 3:00 P.M. Sunday at the church.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.
Mrs. Ward, daughter of the late Arnice Perry Outlaw and Johnnie Pearl Woodham Outlaw, was a native and lifelong resident of the Chalkhead Community, a place she dearly loved and faithfully called home throughout her life. The values of faith, hard work, kindness, and taking care of others were deeply rooted in her heart from an early age, and those qualities became the foundation of the life she lived every day. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, sister, neighbor, and friend whose greatest joy came from caring for those around her.
Mrs. Ward dedicated many years of her life to serving the children of her community through her work at Vivian B. Adams School in Ozark, where she retired as a bus driver and instructional aide. To the students she transported and worked alongside each day, she was much more than an employee. She was a comforting presence, a listening ear, and often a motherly figure who genuinely cared about their well-being. She took pride in helping children feel safe, loved, and encouraged, and she formed countless special bonds that continued long after the school day ended.
Her nurturing spirit extended far beyond her work. Mrs. Ward had a remarkable gift for making people feel welcome, loved, and at home. She enjoyed sewing and was blessed with a talent for creating beautiful children’s clothing. What began as a passion grew into a small business when she opened and operated “The Goose Store” from her home. Through her work, she brought joy to many families and took great pride in creating something special for children. She loved seeing the smiles her handmade creations brought to others.
Perhaps nothing reflected Mrs. Ward’s loving heart more than the way she opened her home to family, friends, and especially children. Her house was a gathering place where everyone felt welcomed, and her swimming pool became a cherished part of growing up for many youngsters in the Chalkhead Community. During the summer months, children could often be found laughing, swimming, and making memories under her watchful eye. She treated them as if they were her own, making sure they were cared for, fed, and loved. For many, Mrs. Ward’s home was a place of happiness, comfort, and acceptance, where doors were always open and everyone was welcome.
Mrs. Ward was preceded in death by her beloved husband of fifty-one years, Reynolds Ward; her sister, Gloria Jean Yeomans; and her brother, Randy Outlaw. Though her presence will be deeply missed, her memory will live on in the hearts of her family, her friends, and the many children and families whose lives she touched. Her legacy is one of love, generosity, faith, and a mother’s heart that made everyone feel like family.
Surviving relatives include her daughter, Donna Culp (Morgan); son, Andy Ward (Renae); brother, Jeff Outlaw (Jacki); sister-in-law, Gayle Outlaw, all of Ozark; grandchildren, Drew Culp (Paige), Mattie Culp, Nate Ward, and Faith McDaniel (Bailey); great-grandchildren, Fisher Culp, Henry Culp, and Harley Culp; relatives from the Ward Family, Donnice Ward (Reva), Corinth Community and Annette Mallory Hall (Will), Opp, Alabama; nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Nate Ward, Bailey McDaniel, Drew Culp, Tyler Outlaw, Bert Maund, Jeb Maund, Garrett Maund, and Troy Maund.
You may sign a guest register at www.fuquabankston.com
