Billie Ann Bennett Ward

Billie Ann Bennett Ward passed away on October 18, 2015, at the age of 66. For almost 5 years, Billie had battled Chondra-Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive, insidious form of cancer. Billie was born to Bill and Aline Bennett on April 25, 1949 and grew up with her three siblings in Decatur. She attended St. Thomas Moore Elementary School and graduated from St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in 1967. She then earned her undergraduate degree and graduate degrees in Education from Georgia State University. Billie taught English in the Clayton County School System for 30 years at Morrow Junior High School and Morrow High School, retiring in 2002. “Miss Bennett” maintained very high standards in her classroom and her students greatly benefited from her instruction. As a perfectionist herself, she expected the same from her students. Her favorite pieces of literature were the plays of Shakespeare and the novel, Wuthering Heights. Her skills in teaching students to write for college and to use correct grammar was expected both in the written and spoken word. Many students have contacted “Miss Bennett” during her illness to thank her for her dedication to the quality of education that she provided. Billie had a great love for animals and adored her Schnauzers, Pooh, PJ, and Agatha, as well as her rescue cat, Miss Scarlett. While living in Florida, she supported the Humane Society in Port St. Joe, and was part of the group to guard sea turtles when they came on the beach to lay their eggs. She and others went out at all times of the day and night to check on the eggs and to make sure that the babies made a safe return to the sea. Because of living across from St. Vincent’s island, a protected nature preserve, she enjoyed many mornings seeing baby eagles and their parents teaching their fledglings how to survive. Her other love was birds, erecting many Blue Bird and Owl houses at her homes in Marietta, Florida, and North Carolina. And in North Carolina, she added a flock of wild turkey and ducks that came to her house every day for food. She enjoyed the outdoors, hiking, running and kayaking on Lake Santeetlah in western North Carolina. Her other passion was for gardening and she spent countless hours in her yard, which was the showplace of the neighborhood. Billie will be greatly missed by her family and friends for her unique style, which can never be easily replicated. Billie was pre-deceased by her parents and her sister, Kathleen Bennett Binion, but survived by her husband of 20 years, Peter C. Ward; two brothers, Joe Bennett of Phoenix, Arizona and his wife, Sandy, Jim Bennett of Vinings, GA and his wife, Elena; a nephew, Reid Binion; and niece, Heather Binion Almond and her husband, Daniel, as well as their children, Sami and Jack Almond. She will also be missed by a host of dear friends. A Memorial Celebration will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2015 at the Miller-Ward Alumni House with a catered reception following the service until 5:00 p.m., located at 815 Houston Mill Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30329. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to your favorite Humane Society. www.mayeswarddobbins.com 770-428-1511

Billie Ann Bennett Ward

April 25, 1949 - October 18, 2015