Mrs. Miriam Eugenia McBride Ward was born on September 5, 1925 in Sanderson, Florida. She later attended Columbia High School in Lake City, Florida and was the oldest of 5 girls. In high school Miriam was involved in many activities, and was a very popular student. She was the President of her Jr. and Sr. classes, was the Florida Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen recipient, was in the National Honor Society, Student Council, and was the Valedictorian of her senior class of 1943. An academic scholarship enabled her to attend Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia for one year. In 1945 she married Raymond E. Ward in Lake City. "Gene" was a former neighbor and Navy Pilot. The newlyweds then moved to their first duty station at NAS Pensacola. Over the next 25 years, Miriam, "Gene", and their only child Milinda, were stationed in Jacksonville, FL / Virginia Beach, VA. / Atlantic City, NJ / Seaford, NY / Guantanamo Bay, Cuba / Rota, Spain / Brunswick, GA / and Lemoore NAS, CA. When Gene retired in 1970 (LCDR Raymond Eugene Ward) the family moved to Tallahassee. Miriam was a community volunteer, working as a Sunday School Teacher, Girl Scout Leader, "Grey Lady", President of the Officer's Wives Club, was always on the committee for her Columbia High Class of '43 reunions, and devoted herself to giving love and assistance to any family member who needed help. She was beloved by everyone, and was a true "Southern Belle" / Navy Wife. Unfortunately, in 1997 she had a stroke, which permanently paralyzed her. She passed away on September 22, 2014 at the Earl Hadlow Community Hospice Center in Mandarin, as a result of long term complications from her stroke. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, James and Lizzie Howard Fraser of Macclenny, parents, Eugenia and Earl McBride of Lake City, sisters, Flora Mae (Bordie) Brinkley and Braunda Lee Bauman. Survivors include her daughter, Milinda (Joe) Spaner of Jacksonville, FL; sisters, Earline Minor of Tallahassee, FL and Ann (Walter) Hasley of Winter Haven, FL; and over 20 nieces and nephews. One of her classmates signed her "Columbian" yearbook with a statement that truly "sums up" Miriam – "To a real person, as fine as I have ever known." Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church of Lake City with Pastor Jeff Tate officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation with the family will be held one hour prior to service time (1:30 – 2:30) at the church. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the First United Methodist Church, 973 S. Marion Ave, Lake City, FL. 32025 or to the Earl Hadlow Community Hospice Center for Caring, 4266 Sunbeam Rd., Jacksonville, FL. 32257. where she received care and comfort from a wonderful staff for the last 3 weeks of her life. GATEWAY-FOREST LAWN FUNERAL HOME, 3596 S. US Hwy 441, Lake City, FL 32025 (386) 752-1954.www.gatewayforestlawn.com