Mildred Ward

Reverend Mildred Mahalla Whisenant Rehbein Ward, 91 of Union Grove went to claim her heavenly reward at 4:21 p.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at Hospice of Marshall County Shepherd's Cove in Albertville, Alabama. Most people knew her as Mom, Mama, Mom Ward, MaMaw, Grandma, Reverend Mildred and Millie. To know her was to know one of the sweetest, kindest and most considerate women on earth. Mrs. Ward was born on June 3, 1922 in Union Grove, Alabama the daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Lizzie Whisenant. She is the last of her siblings to pass, preceded by her brothers: Jack and Troy Whisenant of Union Grove. Mom Ward was also preceded in death by her husband of 39 years, Harold Ward of Oak Grove, Louisiana. She accomplished so much in her life. She was a graduate of Business School; legal secretary; an ordained minister; published author; bi-vocational Pastor; mother of six, grandmother of 18, great grandmother of 22 and great, great grandmother of 9; urban missionary; gardener; housekeeper, baker; cook; expository preacher; trusted friend and an Earth Angel ! As a pastor and spiritual mentor, Reverend Ward was gifted by God to provide empathic pastoral care and speak biblical words of truth and wisdom that encouraged, edified and instructed hundreds of people in over 60 years of ministry. Mrs. Ward is survived by her children, Jack Rehbein (Joan) of Pearland, Texas, George Rehbein (Glenda) of Deer Park, Texas, Ceresa Ann Beason (Jim) of Union Grove, Alabama, David Rehbein (Brenda) of Arab, Alabama, Paul Rehbein of Union Grove, Alabama and Jon Rehbein (Esther) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Change of Service due to Weather Conditions... Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 14, 2014 at Twelfth Avenue Church of God, Reverend Faye Asbury, Reverend Will Hughes and Reverend Joe Stephenson, officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olive Cemetery, Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel, directing. Visitation will be from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. also on Friday, February 14, 2014 at the Twelfth Avenue Church of God. In Lieu-of-Flowers memorial gifts may be given to the Mildred Rehbein Ward Memorial Fund C/O Albertville Worship Center, 203 North Cahill Road; Albertville, AL 35950. From one of Mom's latest devotionals: a Mother Is A Gift From God "I have been reminded of your sincere faith which once lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and I am persuaded, now lives in you also." (2nd Timothy 1; 5 NIV) The observation of Mother's Day is a time when we honor our mother with gifts to express our love. It Should not be only on this special day that we let her know how much we love and appreciate her. If our mothers are gone to their reward, we can only pay tribute by remembering. Perhaps you have felt that you were not a good mother; that you didn't give your children what they needed. Let me share this poem with you, which was a comfort to me as I thought about my own failures in mothering. "She could not give her children gold, so she gave them faith to have and hold. She could not give them royal birth... a name renowned throughout the earth, but she gave them seeds and a garden spot and shade trees when the sun was hot. She could not give a silver spoon or servants waiting night and noon. She gave them love and a listening ear and told them God was always near. She could not give them ocean trips aboard majestic sailing ships, but she gave them books and a quiet time, adventures found in prose or rhyme. She could not give them worldly things but what she gave was fit for kings, for with her faith and books and sod she made each child aware of God." If we leave our children a legacy of faith in God, it is the one thing of lasting value we can bequeath.

Mildred Ward

June 3, 1922 - February 8, 2014