Laurette Coker Ward

Laurette Coker Ward, 98, of Ashburn passed away Sunday, March 23, 2025 at her residence.

Laurette was born on February 21, 1927 to Dutch Edmond and Opal Burk Reeves Coker in Orange County, Florida. The family moved to Sycamore where she grew up. After graduating Sycamore High School, she attended Business School. On September 30, 1945, Laurette and Payton Clemons Ward were married by Rev. M. B. Chishim. Laurette worked at Manhattan Shirt Company for many years. Starting first in the Ashburn plant and transferring to the plant in Americus after the Ashburn plant closed. St. Theresa Catholic Church in Cordele is where she found her spiritual guidance and membership. Unable to attend for several years, Father Paulinus Okpala visited her every two weeks. She was very grateful for those visits and the ladies from the church who visited as well. Though she had no children of her own she was a wonderful aunt and second Mama to her sister’s children, Alan, Ken and Sherry. Her great and great great nieces and nephews enjoyed visiting her and nicknamed her “The Don” as the matriarch of the family. Laurette loved growing flowers and most afternoons you could find her rocking on her front porch among them. She was the last original home owner on her street.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Payton Clemons Ward, her parents, Dutch and Opal Coker and her sister Latrelle Coker Lee (Wynton).

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to one of the following: St. Theresa Catholic Church, 807 3rd Street South, Cordele, Georgia 31015 or Pruitt Health Hospice and Palliative Care of Cordele, 708 16th Avenue East, Cordele, Georgia 31015.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Perry Funeral Chapel. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM. Interment will be private.