Laura Ward
Laura Elizabeth Ward was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on October 9, 1981. She went into the presence of her Savior Jesus Christ on December 29, 2024.
Laura spent her early years in Michigan, and moved to St. Louis, Mo., when her family began to prepare for ministry. When Laura was 11 years old, her family moved to Africa to serve with Mission to the World, and she grew up in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Nairobi, Kenya, and Cape Town, South Africa.
Laura graduated from Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, Georgia, with her B.A. in English, and from Richmont Graduate University, Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she received her M.A. in Marriage & Family Therapy.
Laura served as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist at Henegar Counseling Center, 1815 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, Tn. She also served part-time as a consultant with the Member Care Team of Mission to the World (Presbyterian Church in America), providing counseling services to serving missionaries and their families.
She also taught a course for many years at Covenant College with her colleague Paul Laskowske, to “third culture kids” to help them process their global nomad identity. With co-author Brenda Keck, she wrote a curriculum entitled “Tarmac, a 10 week guide to making sense of your multicultural story” that has been used to help many “third culture kids” process the way in which the Lord has used their intercultural journeys to shape their lives.
She loved walking with others through the deep valleys of life, and providing wise counsel to encourage their hearts. She was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, and member of North Shore Fellowship (PCA) in Chattanooga. Her only hope, in life and in death, was that she belonged, to her faithful Savior Jesus Christ.
In her “off hours”, Laura loved deep conversations with family and friends over a cup of tea, reading good books, learning about other cultures, going for long walks, and most of all, playing with her niece and three nephews.
She is survived by her mother and father, and her brother David and his wife Katie, and her niece Isla, and nephews Samuel, Benji and Charlie, together with her beloved aunts, uncles and cousins.
There will be a memorial service to celebrate her life and hope in the Gospel on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at 4 p.m. at North Shore Fellowship, 118 Woodland Ave., Chattanooga, Tn..
Memorial contributions may be made to the Laura Ward Scholarship Fund at Richmont Graduate University, 1815 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga.
Visit www.heritagebattlefield.com to share condolences with the family.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory, Battlefield Parkway.