Union: Services for Mr. James A. Ward Jr of Little Rock, MS will be held 1:00 pm Saturday, May 25, 2024 at Milling Funeral Home of Union with burial  to follow at Hester Cemetery. Bro. Matthew Hitt and Bro. Rusty Walton will officiate. Visitation will be held 11:30 am-1:00 pm Saturday, May 25, 2024 at Milling Funeral Home of Union prior to services.

James Alvin Ward Jr left his tired, old body on May 18, 2024, in Philadelphia, MS surrounded by his loved ones. James slipped into the arms of Jesus and was welcomed into the gates of heaven by his son Jerry Wayne Ward, his parents: James Alvin Ward Sr., & Lucille Poole Ward, his sisters, Polly Ann Laird, Judy Inez McCrory and Carlene Branning Gray and his brother, Jimmy Davis Ward.

James was born December 22nd, 1944 in Neshoba County Mississippi. He spent his younger years there picking cotton by day and teaching himself to play the guitar at night by listening to Johnny Cash, Ferlin Husky, Hank Williams Sr. and all the old greats. He could hear a song played one time then play it himself.

James worked at a lot of jobs over the years including Ingalls shipyard, a construction crew, chicken house worker and over the road truck driver. He eventually wound up in Newton County, Mississippi, as a welder for Billy Vance Welding until he bought his own welding truck. A lot of things changed over the years but James's love of playing the guitar, never did. James played  in bars, country clubs, VFW's and family reunions and even played with The International Singing Brakeman Association on the Sucarnochee  and in Kemper County MS at Sciples Mill. James always had a guitar with him and was happy to play anytime, anywhere.

Left behind to mourn his loss are; his loving wife of 58 years Peggy Simmons Ward, his sons: Robert Ward of Arkansas, James Alvin Ward III of Little Rock, Ms., Ellison James Ward (Contina) of Philadelphia MS and Luther Aiden Ward of Little Rock Ms., Sisters: Martha Davidson (Rusty) of Lucedale MS and Susie Sheppard (Glenn) of Ridgeland MS, his brothers: Sonny Ward, Pete Ward (Juanita) of Lucedale MS. and Tommy Ward of Little Rock MS, as well as a host of grandchildren, great grands, nieces, nephews and countless other family and friends.

James never met a stranger, he said it was just someone who didn't know his name yet. So, whether you knew him as James, James Alvin, Country, Slim, or Slick, you knew without a doubt three things: he had red man chewing tobacco in his pocket, a guitar in his truck and you had a lifelong friend. His presence will be greatly missed for years to come by many.