Obituary Record

Dr. Dottery Holden Ward, aged 54, died at the King's Daughters hospital, Gulfport, Saturday morning at 2:30 o'clock as a result of burns sustained about the face and hands when a gasoline pressure heater caught fire and exploded in his office, Main Street, Bay St. Louis, on the morning of Friday, January, 28, 1938.

His condition became critical on Thursday of last week and that evening he was carried to Gullfport hospital for tests and examination. He died Saturday following. It was reported all indications of tetanus were evident. His death was unexpected and the news came both as a surprise and a shock to the many who knew him along the Coast particularly Bay St. Louis and vicinity where he resided and successfully practiced medicine the past ten or twelve years.

Funeral services took place Sunday afternoon from the Reimanns' Undertaking Parlors, Gulfport, and interment was in Evergreen Cemetery of that place. Many attended the last rites from all nearby sections. It wa a large outpouring of friends and acquaiantances and gave every manifestation of the general regard and esteem in which the good doctor was held.

Dr. Ward has been a resident of the Mississippi Coast for some years, practicing medicine in Handsboro, Cedar Lake and Bay St. Louis. He was prominently identified with the civic and business life of the community in which he resided and was known far and wide for his charitable work, giving unstintedly of his strength and professional ability to the needy.

He was born in Holcut, Miss., August 27, 1883, and was reared there. He was educated at the Univerisity of Tennessee, and his first medical practice was in his home town from which he moved to Handsboro.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Pauline Lessel Ward, Bay St. Louis; two sons and two daughters-in-law, and their three children,: Mr. And Mrs. Carlos Ward and children, Louelle and Carlos, Jr, Mr. And Mrs. Rex Ward and daugher, Louise, all of Biloxi; his father, Rev M. L. Ward, pastor of he Methodist Church at Belmont, Miss.; and eight brothers, Fred Ward, Eunice, La; Emmett Ward, Belmont, Miss., Jesse Ward, Golden, Miss; Compton and Galloway Ward, Emporia, Miss.; Will Ward, Okolona, Miss.; Price Ward, Hughes, Ark.; and Joe Ward, Booneville, Miss. His mother died about two years ago.

He has been a life long member of the Methodist cChurch and his membership is at Coalville Church, near Woolmarket.

Burial services were conducted with three Methodist pastors officiating: Rev. Wiley J. Ferguson, First Church, Biloxi; Rev H. S. VanHook, Handsboro; ad Rev. Andrew J. Boyles, Bay St. Louis.

Source: Sea Coast Echo 2-12-1938