Mary Frances Ward Mann

Mrs. Mary Frances Ward Mann, wife and mother departed this life on Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at the age of 85. Mrs. Mann was born, Saturday, April 24, 1926 in Prescott, Arkansas to Eugene and Era Willie Roe Ward. She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Dorothy Jean Ward Schultz and one nephew Russell Loyce Paul. She is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Charles William Mann of Prescott, a son; Charles Ward Mann of Santa Fe, New Mexico, sister; Maxie L. Ward Paul of Prescott, Arkansas, sister-in-law, Juanita Ridgell and brother-in-law, Joe Ridgell of Sulphur Springs, Texas and a host nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Her first home, as a newlywed was in El Dorado, Arkansas, where her husband was the manager of the El Dorado Paint and Varnish Company and also where her son was born. They left El Dorado and moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas where her husband took a position with the Cotton Belt Railroad. She was employed at the Oak Park Drug Store in Pine Bluff, Arkansas for many years and was an active church and choir member at the Immanuel Baptist Church. She also sang with a barbershop quartet. She and her husband moved back to Prescott, Arkansas after his retirement from the Cotton Belt Railroad where they built a new home on the family's old home place. She was an active member of the Sweet Home Church in Blevins, Arkansas, where she and her two sisters sang gospel music as the Ward Sisters. Family will receive friends, 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 20, at Brazzel/Cornish The Funeral Home in Prescott. Services for Mrs. Mann will be 10 a.m., Saturday, May 21 at the Brazzel/Cornish Funeral Chapel. Mr. Harley Sisson will officiate. Burial to follow in Sweet Home Cemetery, Blevins, Arkansas, under the direction of Brazzel/Cornish The Funeral Home of Prescott, Arkansas. Online guestbook: www.brazzelfuneralhomes.com. The Mann Family respectfully request that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Sweet Home Cemetery Fund, c/o M.L. Paul, 6850 Hwy. 371, Prescott, Ark. 71857 or a charity of your choose.