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Earlier in the day he was told that he was going to a church
concert and all the family was planning to attend. He was
never aware of the surprise party his children had been
planning for months to honor him and his twin brother Victor
who lives in Washington, D. C. Unfortunately, Victor was
unable to attend the event due to some recent health issues.
This event proved very historic when their bios were read to
disclose a rich history among the brothers.
Vincent C. and Victor A. Ward, identical twins, were born
on January 14, 1927 to Chester and Mearita Ward in Toledo,
Ohio. They moved to Miami, Florida when they were teenagers
and attended high school there.
After high school Vincent worked for a few years before
enlisting in the United States Army. He was medically
discharged after an injury. Vincent then enrolled in
Morehouse College and majored in history. He was classmates
with Martin Luther King, Jr. and the late Judge Robert V.
Franklin, Jr.
While in college he met and later married Mary Evelena
Jones. Out of their union are seven children: Douglas,
Vivian, Carolyn, Helen, Anita, Vincene (Kim) and Dayna; 52
grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and three great, great
grandchildren.
Vincent retired from the United States Postal Service after
working for 30 years from 1959 until 1989. While employed
with the Postal Service he was awarded a Hero Award for
assisting in saving the life of a family involved in a
serious car accident. He pulled them out of a burning car
before it blew up and was engulfed in flames. Vincent is
currently enjoying retirement. He often enjoys his days at
the J. Frank Troy Senior Center. He was recently honored as
a Founding Member and Deacon for Body of Christ Fellowship
Church.
After high school Victor enrolled in Florida A & M
University from 1946 – 1949 where he was part of the
marching band playing the trombone. He left Florida A & M
University to play the trombone with musical dance bands
until 1951 including the
Count Basie Band when Uncle Sam called him into the
military. While in the military he joined their band and
played the trombone. During his last active duty
reenlistment he was with the 75th Army Band at
Fort Belvoir, VA where he played the trombone.
After active duty in 1958, he joined the military reserves.
Victor was part of two historic events while in the military
reserves: 1) He was with the band that played for the
inauguration of President John F. Kennedy. 2) His reserve
unit was armed and guarded the city of Washington, D. C. for
75 days during the riots of 1968.
In that same year of 1958,
Victor became employed with the United States Treasury where
he received several awards for his service. He retired from
the United States Treasury in 1983.
After retirement from the
Treasury he worked part-time for the Arthur Anderson
Accounting firm. He has spent 10 years or more volunteering
at the Walter Reed Military Hospital. He is actively
involved with Emory Heights AARP as an officer and member.
Currently, he is a deacon
at Historic Berean Baptist Church in Washington, D. C. under
the Rev. Jesse J. Jackson. He has been married to Elizabeth
Newkirk Ward for 62 years. They have one son: Darryl (wife
Data), three grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Victor’s motto is “To God
Be the glory.”
The gala event included a program and dinner. The program
was inspirational with an opening prayer and presentation
from Shahim Hampton, senior pastor of Body of Christ Church
where Vincent is a deacon and founding member.
More laughter and inspiration followed when Vincent’s
brother, Rev. Earl Duane Ellis, Sr. and his wife Rev.
Catherine, co-pastors of Titus Precepts Soul Care Church in
Chicago, IL associated with Titus Precepts Ministry, Inc.
told stories of Vincent and Victor’s childhood and all their
great accomplishments during the reading of their bios.
Catherine introduced Vincent’s children and spoke of fond
memories of their childhood. The program concluded with
presentations and a final touching prayer from Vincent and
Victor’s youngest sister, Reverend Bernice Spann, from
Miami, Florida.
The event was most touching for Vincent when a Proclamation
from the Toledo mayor’s office was presented. That was
followed by the reading of the Resolution from the Lucas
County Commissioners and was followed by the presentation of
the Resolution from Toledo City Council Members: Theresa
Gabriel, Larry Sykes and Tyrone Riley. Vincent accepted
these honors on behalf of himself and his brother.
After the reading of a letter to honor them from Reverend
Jesse J. Jackson, pastor of Historic Berean Baptist Church
in Washington, D.C. where Victor is a deacon and long-time
member Vincent was asked to make some remarks.
Vincent shared that he was almost speechless and could
barely find words to express how grateful he is for his
children, his grandchildren, great grandchildren, great,
great grandchildren, his twin brother and his family, his
brothers and sisters, his nieces and nephews, all his family
that traveled to this gala event from Washington D. C.,
California, Chicago, Atlanta, Alabama, Tennessee, Michigan,
Seattle, WA, and elsewhere, the thoughtfulness of everyone
in attendance, the honor of receiving the Proclamation and
Resolutions.
Vincent went on to say that he regrets that his twin brother
was not in attendance but he humbly accepted these honors
and gives God all the praise and all the glory.
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