Bertha Ward-Hilton

Bertha went home to be with the Lord on March 3, 2013 at Borgess Hospital, in Kalamazoo, MI at the age of 90. She was born January 9, 1923 in Hollandale, Mississippi to Lewis and Addie (Winston) Payne, the older of two children. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband and father of her children Willie Ward, two sons, Walter and Andrew Ward, daughter, Linda Ward and late husband Reverend Thomas Hilton.Bertha valued education, graduating from Southwestern Michigan College in 1969. She then worked for Cass County Planned Parenthood from 1970 to 1974. Bertha gave her life to Christ and is a member of Second Baptist Church in Dowagiac, MI. Bertha loved to read the Bible until her health began to fail. Bertha enjoyed traveling, sharing the word of God and spending time with her family. Bertha will be greatly missed by family and friends. She is survived by; three sons, Jessie Ward of Niles, MI, William (Effie) Ward of Little Rock, Ark., Robert Ward of Little Rock, Ark.; a sister, Rena Taylor of Chicago, IL niece/daughter Rosie (Tommy) King of Chicago, IL, two uncles, Joe Winston of Chicago, IL, James Winston of California, an Aunt, Dorothy Bailey of Chicago, Il, seven grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; and a host of great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. Bertha’s family will gather with friends at 12:00 PM Saturday, March 9, 2013 at Second Baptist Church in Dowagiac for her Home Going Service. She will be laid to rest in Riverside Cemetery in Dowagiac. Please sign her guestbook and leave a memory of Bertha at www.yazel-clark.com.