Chris was a CPA and Accredited Estate Planner. He was a 1970 graduate of Mississippi State University at which time he began his professional career with Peat, Marwick Mitchell and Company. In 1976 he became associated with the Memphis CPA firm of Rhea and Ivy, PLC. In 2003 he became Fiduciary Services Manager for the Memphis Region of Suntrust Bank before retiring in 2008.
Chris was active in many community and professional organizations. He served as a past president of the Estate Planning Council of Memphis and the Germantown Rotary Club. He served as treasurer of the Planned Giving Council of Greater Memphis and was a member of the Economic Club of Memphis. He also served as Board President of the Les Passees Children’s Rehabilitation Center, board member of the Phoenix Club, member of the Planned Giving Advisory Committee of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Memphis and was a member of the Board of Contributors for Creative Giving, a monthly newsletter of the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. His articles on estate planning were often published and distributed throughout the Mid-South. He was a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the Tennessee Society of CPAs and the Mississippi Society of CPAs, where he served as a past president of the Central Mississippi Chapter. He was a member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Memphis.
Chris is survived by his daughter, Anna (John) Sukmann, of Ocean Springs, MS, his brothers Ronny (Nancy) Ward of Camden, South Carolina and Giles (Kay) Ward of Louisville, MS.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Egger Ward and his parents, W. R. and Lois Ward, of Louisville, MS.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, May 3 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. with a memorial service immediately following at Memorial Park Funeral Home in Memphis. The family will also receive friends from 1:00-2:00 p.m. with a memorial service immediately following at Porter Funeral Home Chapel on Tuesday, May 5 in Louisville, MS.
A private, family burial will be held at a later date. Chris' preferred charities were American Cancer Society, Emmanuel United Methodist Church, Les Passees and Winston Strong Tornado Relief.
