James Granbery Ward, Jr MT. PLEASANT – “A man’s reputation does not belong only to himself, but to the family, friends, his profession and the public,” (Bowen, BF, 1904). We all own a piece of James G. Ward, Jr., MD. We know who he was, what he was involved in, his passions and his energies, and we cannot count the many ways he has influenced our lives. James Granbery Ward, Jr., age 74, passed away on Thursday, May 28, at Hospice of Charleston. A Charlotte, NC native, Dr. Ward was Mt. Pleasant’s first pediatrician and is as well known for being a gifted educator as for being a physician. He has cared for and taught a generation of children who grew up, married, and now bring their own children to his office. While listed as a pediatrician, he continued to have a family practice, treating the parents as well as the children. Dr. Ward is a sought-after lecturer and expert in the area of ADHD/Dyslexia, and has a number of published articles on the subject. He was on the National Board of Directors of the International Dyslexia Association and just recently returned from presenting a paper at the Annual Spring Conference of the Carolinas Branch of The Orton Dyslexia Society. Dr. Ward was a perpetual student. Having graduated from Wake Forest University with a BS in Biology and Chemistry, he went on to Phillips University in Oklahoma to earn a Medical Technology degree (MT/ASCP). He then earned a MS in Microbiology and Genetics at the University of New Hampshire, finally graduating from the Medical University of South Carolina with his MD. Later, he continued his interest in all things medical by earning a MS degree in Counseling Psychology from Southern Illinois University and a MEd in Special Education from the Citadel in Charleston. He served as the Chief of Pediatrics and Chief of Professional Services, with the rank of Lt. Col.(USAF) from 1971-1973. He completed his internship and residency in Pediatrics, a second residency in Pathology, and a residency in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at MUSC. Following his residencies, he became a Teaching Fellow in Pathology at MUSC. A dedicated physician and educator, he had many teaching appointments over the years including the University of New Hampshire, Furman University, Anderson College, Anderson Memorial Hospital Medical Technology Program, East Cooper School in Mt. Pleasant, First Baptist Church School, the College of Charleston, and the Citadel. He was currently a Clinical Assistant Professor at MUSC. Dr. Ward was a member of the South Carolina Academy of Pediatrics, Charleston County Medical Society, South Carolina Medical Association, the Charleston County Pediatric Society, the Society of American Biologists, South Carolina Academy of Science, Robert Wilson Medical History Club, and was also a Board Member of the International Association and Carolinas Branch of the Orton Dyslexia Society. He was a member of Phi Sigma (honorary Biology fraternity), Beta Beta Beta (honorary Bacteriology fraternity) and was recently inducted into the AOA, medical honor fraternity. Dr. Ward was a gifted teacher and a voracious reader. He even studied the medical history of the Hawaiian monarchy while he was attending a medical conference and presenting a paper on ADHD in Hawaii, several years ago. He returned to Charleston and presented his research on the Hawaiian monarchy to the Student Medical History Club and the Robert Wilson Medical History Club. As an active member of the Waring Historical Library Society at the Medical University of South Carolina, he supported the many students who came to the weekly medical student history club, where a variety of physicians speak on topics in medical history. He was a regular speaker at these weekly luncheon meetings and also one of the faculty for the Topics in the History of the Health Sciences, a survey course held in the Spring semester which was open to students at MUSC and the College of Charleston. Whenever Dr. Ward was listed as the speaker, the room was overflowing with students, faculty, and the public. He would personally go to the student clubs and explain the need for the students to learn about the humanities as well as the sciences, inviting them to attend the luncheon meetings or the Topics class. He is the Immediate Past President of the Waring Historical Library, the special collections and rare book library of MUSC. As Chair of the Awards Committee, he was the originator of the W. Curtis Worthington Research Paper Competition, and designed two medals which are presented each year for the best two papers from those submitted from international health sciences students. He obtained funding for these medals and was a strong supporter of young students learning the history of the medical sciences. Dr. Ward was a preceptor for the “Introduction to Doctoring” course at MUSC, in which medical students rotated through the various local physician offices, and he delighted in showing these future medical professionals his love for the art and the practice of medicine. Every Tuesday when his office was closed, for over 16 years, Dr. Ward was one of the Staff Physicians at the Student Health Service at the College of Charleston. He attended and spoke at a number of national student health conferences, and loved caring for the adolescent and young adults he encountered at the Student Health Clinic. On either Tuesday or Thursday evenings (and sometimes on both), he would head to the Mt. Pleasant CARES Clinic (Community Aid, Relief, Education, and Support), serving as one of the physicians who supervised the medical, nursing, pharmacy, or allied health students from MUSC who provided care for those without insurance. On the weekends, you often found him at the Roper St Francis Healthcare’s unique after-hours urgent care program, PedsPlus. For over 15 years he cared for children at nights and weekends when their physician was not available. A passionate supporter of PedsPlus, Dr. Ward “became a member of our families, attending weddings, graduations, and happy celebrations, yet standing with us during illness and sorrow,” said Gene Glave, Pediatrics Services Manager at Roper St. Francis. Through PedsPlus, Dr. Ward also helped educate over 1500 paramedic students. Roberta Patrick, EMS Clinical Director said that every student “learned, loved, and respected him. He added real strength to the pediatric aspect of their training, learning how to handle a child, talk to a family, recognize symptoms of potential problems, and increasing their skills and comfort level for treating a child in the field.” The students selected Dr. Ward to be the speaker at eight of their graduation programs. A special award has been established in his name to be given at each graduation, recognizing the student who is as passionate and caring as Dr. Ward was. The PedsPlus staff considered him a wonderful diagnostician who “brought joy to all of the staff as well as his patients.” In addition to all the medical activities, Dr. Ward was an avid supporter of the arts in Charleston. He was past president of the Charleston Symphony, a regular patron of the Concert Association, member of the Gibbes Art Museum, Charleston Museum, regularly attended local plays (was official physician for the student actors who were interning at Dock Street Theatre who needed medical care while living in Charleston), and looked forward each year to the two weeks of Spoleto/Piccolo Spoleto activities. Dr. Ward was a classically trained vocalist and pianist, often singing at local weddings and other public performances. He was Chair of the Music Committee at First Baptist Church in Charleston, and sang in the choir. He was instrumental in bringing David Redd (now deceased) to First Baptist Church as their organist. In 1981, the News and Courier interviewed Dr. Ward about his teaching at East Cooper School in Mt. Pleasant. He first was a guest lecturer in the science classes about genetics and then was persuaded to provide a full semester course on genetics. His deep love for educating these students evidenced itself by the fact that he grabbed a bag lunch and a Coke and headed out the door of his office in the Old Village during his lunch hour and taught the classes. In the afternoon he returned to a full office schedule. Both his oldest daughter and son were in his classes and gave the highest praise for his ability to make these difficult concepts understandable to all the students. They often said that no one could fail his courses, because he would work with them individually until they understood the concepts. He was an active Board Member at East Cooper School. He was a strong supporter of Wingate College in Wingate, NC and often recommended some of his patients to attend that college. His son, Rush graduated from Wingate and his daughter graduated from the Certified Medical Assistant Program there. He was Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Medical Assistant Program for many years. When his children returned to work in his office, he became a strong supporter of the South Carolina Society of Medical Assistants (an affiliate of the AAMA), and was the longest serving medical advisor to the Charleston Chapter of Medical Assistants. He often spoke at the local and state meetings on ADHD and genetics. His paper presentations are too numerous to mention, as he loved to share his knowledge about science, but his love of humanity in general, and his ability to engage you in laughter and service to others, was unmatched. When he entered a room, the room took on an electric charge and he was smiling and hugging everyone in sight. As a young boy, he spent summers in rural North Carolina and he regularly attended church there in the black community. He became interested in the Gullah language and he was sought after to speak about his deep appreciation for the work ethic and the spiritual values of his Gullah-speaking neighbors who are among his best friends. John Roberts wrote an editorial in the Baptist Courier in 1992 about Dr. Ward’s love for these people and his appreciation of their history and language. He was invited to speak to the Southern Baptist Editors, as well as to read some of the poems he could read in Gullah. He often said that Pearl McKenzie, who worked in the Ward home and helped raise his four children, had become his teacher. He enrolled in several courses at the College of Charleston under the master Gullah teacher, Virginia M. Geraty, becoming a close friend to her until her death. To hear him read these Gullah poems, you knew he loved these people. Dr. Ward was chosen to be in the “Guide to America’s Top Pediatricians” and was listed in Who’s Who in Education, International Who’s Who, and was voted one of the”Best Doctors in America” in 1996, 1999, 2007 and 2008 (the top 5% of doctors are listed.) Dr. Ward was instrumental in organizing a 100th Birthday Celebration for Margot Freudenberg and served as co-chair of the event held at the Riveria in 2007, to help raise funds for The Hope Lodge, and the American Cancer Society. Dr. Ward’s wife, Louise, predeceased him, and he is survived by his four children, Thomas Rush (Rush) Ward, Elizabeth Ward Paddock of Raleigh, NC, William McIlwain (Mack) Ward, and Judith Chaworth Ward, as well as three grandchildren, Ainslie Chaworth Paddock, Robert Bradford Paddock, and James William Ward, and one sister, Joan Ward Moon of Sumter, SC. Funeral arrangements are being handled by J. Henry Stuhr’s Mt. Pleasant Chapel. A memorial service will be held Thursday, June 4, at 4 p.m. at the Mt. Pleasant Municipal Complex, 100 Ann Edwards Lane, off Houston Northcutt. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to The Waring Library Society at the Medical University of South Carolina. The mailing address is MUSC 403, Charleston, SC 29425-4030. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/deaths. Tags: 1981
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