Even with Williams out front, her soaring soprano capable of reaching the top of the scale, Wards presence was always in demand, particularly for her to render How I Got Over, in her practically heavenly alto voice. We offer both funeral and cremation services. 34020. Add to your scrapbook. Mrs. Ward was also competitive with her own daughter whose relationships she sabotaged to keep the act moving on up. Her marriage ended after only one year. Gertrude Ward telephoned Mother Dabney, a spiritual healer in New Jersey, and Clara miraculously was restored to health. It allows people to adjust to difficult changes by socializing with others experiencing similar feelings through engaging activities. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Ward began singing and playing piano at age six in church, while the family struggled through the Great Depression. Randolph Johnson, for instance, plays characters ranging from a sexual predator relative to the Reverend C. L. Franklin, Arethas father. Service April 7, 1 PM, at Fairview Memorial Gardens. The following year Ward was the Choral Director of Langston Hughes musical Tambourines to Glory, and was the principal singer in the Broadways Little Theatre on West 44th Street. A year later, Ward was back in Vietnam at the request of The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO). document.getElementById( "ak_js" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 15 Rare Black History Facts Youve Never Heard. The story begins in 1973 at Clara Ward's funeral, after the performer died from a stroke at 49, then via flashback proceeds to depict her rough-ride from poverty to international fame. Clara spent much time in the Franklin home and, along with Mahalia Jackson (another close Franklin family friend), mentored Aretha. Failed to report flower. The name was later changed to Willow Glen Funeral Chapel and then to its current name: Willow Glen Funeral Home. The performance of Clara lasts two hours and twenty minutes, with one short intermission. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Clara Ward And The Clara Ward Singers. Our reception area includes 2 large banquet tables for food service and well-equipped kitchen facilities. Henrietta Waddy joined the group in 1947 after Willa Ward retired; she added a rougher alto and the enthusiastic stage manners taken from her South Carolina church background. 1930 - Philadelphia (Districts 0501-0750), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 1940 - 2224 Woodstock St, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Jan 16 1973 - Los Angeles, California, USA, American Gospel Artist; Singer, Music Arranger, Songwriter, Apr 21 1924 - Philadelphia, United States, Photo by Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA. and Charlton ward, Savannah. The new songs written for the show are often character driven. Let this page be added to what has been only fragments of her momentous life. We take part in the Dignity Memorial LIFT program, a social support program for those who have lost their spouses. Like many of the groups innovations, this became a standard element of gospel and subsequent genres. Born December 13, 1951 in Sumter, SC, she was the daughter of the late James S. Gibson, Sr. and Myrtle Billups Gibson and the widow of Gary Lynn Ward. The musical director, Eric Troy, is the accompanist on an electric piano. Although as musical director of the Ward franchise Clara was willing to share the spotlight with her talented co-singers, she and her mother were tightfisted about sharing the group's financial rewards with other members. Clara Ward had more leads on this than anyone and she didn't even lead one song that night. Gertrude also created and managed a second group, "The Clara Ward Specials", to accompany the Ward Singers. Tierra Whetstone is moving, full of warmth and charm as Claras sister Willa, a talented young singer whose mother often denigrated her and played her off against her sibling. Send simple, comforting meals with Home Chef. Ward is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, Ca. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Robert Allen Ward to pay them a last tribute. Finally, Jan. 16, 1973, at the age of 48, she was dead. A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Fox Valley Memory Project, (https://www.foxvalleymemoryproject.org). Clara Ward co-starred in the Hollywood movie "A Time To Sing", starring Hank Williams, Jr, Shelley Fabares, Ed Begley, and D'Urville Martin. In 1931, Gertrude had a vision of herself as a gospel singer. Miss Ward was a firm believer in her music. You can search by first or last name, state and publication date. February 22, 2023 In 1968 Clara Ward and her singers toured Vietnam at the request of the U.S. State Department and the U.S.O. Greensboro,NC Obituaries. Clara Ward (April 21, 1924 - January 16, 1973) was a gospel artist who achieved great success, both artistic and commercial, in the 1940s and 1950s as leader of The Famous Ward Singers. In 1977 Clara Ward was honored posthumously at the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City and her surviving sister, Willa, accepted an award in her honor. In 1950 and 1952, Ward performed at New York Citys Carnegie Hall at the Negro Music Festival. Mr. Gray visited the Accinellis in their home and said he was "looking for a place to hang his hat. Mr. Accinelli respected Mr. Gray and they shook hands on it. A system error has occurred. VDEP 34020, VDEP. Clara Mae Ward was born in Philadelphia April 21, 1924, and was nurtured in a home where the church and gospel music were as regular as Sunday morning grits, eggs and bacon. Clara Ward is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. They immediately became a sensational success and a top attraction on the gospel circuit, with a full year on the National Baptist Convention network alone. When you walk through our doors, you become part of the Willow Glen Funeral Home family. They were in demand on American TV shows constantly and appeared on the Mike Douglas Show over a dozen times. At a second service held in Los Angeles, Marion Williams sang, a fitting tribute to her former colleague and co-star. A family member will have to initiate the application process by calling the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line at 1-844-684-6333 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00AM - 8:00PM (Central Time) beginning on April 12, 2021. Any day. All of this activity occurred four years after the Ward Singers toured Vietnam at the request of the State Department and the USO. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Under Gertrudes strict management, the group paid its non-family members substantially less than the Wards, and even charged them rent for housing which Gertrudes business complex supplied. To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one. Every performer is strong and versatile. According to Willa Ward, Gertrude was misled into believing that the songwriting royalties from Clara's compositions would be minimal and accordingly sold them. She died on January 16, 1973, having created a wholly new type of music that would influence the subsequent development of nearly all African Americanstylesandperformers. They also toured in Australia, Japan, Europe, Indonesia, Thailand, and in the United States. Learn more about managing a memorial . Because Mrs. Accinelli knew how much her husband loved people and his business, she felt it was a natural decision for her to stay and carry on after he died. Ward had her image on a 32-cent stamp in 1998. Clara Ward. Learn more about merges. Wards health declined toward the end of this period, leading to a decision to retire. Fountain makes Mrs. Ward ferociously real yet you never hate her. Like so many of her contemporaries, she gained her first musical experience singing in the church. After Willa was married the group made its first appearance before a white audience in 1957 at the Newport Jazz Festival, Concert tours and nightclub bookings at home and abroad followed. As a funeral director, he could help all families to the best of his abilities. Failed to remove flower. Clara Thompson Ward of Chattanooga passed from this life on Monday, June 23, 2014. Williams and the other disbanded members formed a new group called The Stars of Faith, which might have been a name to counter the Ward Singers venturing out of the conventional gospel genre and style. NEW YORK Willa Ward, who lent her pure, note-bending voice to the Ward Singers, one of the most famous and influential groups of what is considered the golden age of gospel singing, died in. That's why we offer every family we serve a 100% service guarantee. By the 1960s, the surviving group had taken the next, perhaps inevitable step toward the fusion of religious and popular art: they began performing in night clubs like New Yorks Village Vanguard, at Disneyland, and even in Las Vegas. English Whoops! At a second service held in Los Angeles, Marion Williams sang, a fitting tribute to her former colleague and co-star. The world will miss this truly lovely person . Miss Ward, leader of the Clara Ward Singers, had been in a coma at U.C.L.A. It gives me updates and information. Try again later. Try again later. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Named to the fall semester dean's list with a GPA of 3.5 or higher at the school with campuses in Hutchinson and Willmar were: Appleton: Austen Piotter Atwater: Kylie Anderson, Mitchell Nelson . A man who seemed to have a talent for investing, he'd worked in shipping with his uncle, had his hand in lumber, the railroads, and manufactured steel near Detroit. Willow Glen Funeral Home is located in the heart of the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose, California, at 1039 Lincoln Avenue. Gotham's Irv Ballen recorded some new Ward material, including "Surely God Is Able", and some of the Ward Singers' Gotham recordings were transferred to Savoy Record Company in Newark, New Jersey to settle a contract dispute. This date would be reprised in 1952 at another Bostic produced event. She died on January 16, 1973 in Los Angeles, California, USA. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Amenities Location Large-capacity chapel Modern funeral home Pet friendly Cremation Cremation remembrance jewelry Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. In the same year she recorded an album in Copenhagen, Denmark on the Philips label entitled: "Walk A Mile In My Shoes": which included the pop title song, other pop songs (like California Dreaming) and a few gospel songs. Clara Ward was invited back to Vietnam by U.S.O. The burial will follow at Westwood Cemetery in Carrboro. Clara C. Ward October 20, 1927 July 8, 2019 Friends are invited to call Monday July 15, 2019 , 400pm 730pm, Estep Brothers Funeral Home, 1300 Eutaw Place, Baltimore, Maryland 21217 Religious Service Tuesday July 16, 2019 , 1000am Wake 1030 pm Funeral , St. Johns A.M.E., 810 N. Carrollton Seven years later, Ward recorded Soul and Inspiration for Capitol Records, mainly an assemblage of pop songs from Broadway plays and movies. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Renardo Johnson, strong as Claras kindly father, is especially poignant when he sings We Got Us, about how African American men were often unable to give their families much besides dreams. Though Gertrude was a savvy negotiator, her understanding of the value of music copyrights was limited. While Ward never remarried nor had children, she was a close friend of Reverend Clarence LaVaughn Franklin, Aretha Franklins father, whom the Ward Singers toured with throughout the 1950s. 8, no. Miami-born Marion Williams (1927-1994) also influenced well-known . To use this feature, use a newer browser. Mr. Accinelli began his business with a commitment to a high standard of service, and throughout our history, we have continued to lead and innovate while maintaining those standards. Medical Center since suffering a second stroke at her suburban Baldwin Hills home last week. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Have questions or need a quote? Clara and Dick were an interagal part to our organization. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. I was not fully prepared for the new show enjoying its world premiere at Open Door Repertory Company called Clara, by McKinley Johnson. Her mother, Gertrude Ward, and father relocated there from an impoverished existence in rural South Carolina. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory. It's surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning. Her 1972 album on United Artists entitled: "Uplifting" (produced by Nikolas Venet and Sam Alexander) included her stunning interpretation of Bill Wither's pop hit: "Lean On Me" and a rearrangement of the Soul Stirrer's 1950's recording of "Thank You, Jesus". In 1949 the Ward Singers toured from Philadelphia to California in their new Cadillac, appeared on TV in Hollywood, and recorded for the Miltone Record Company of Los Angeles. To a Stage Mother Born Ward was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1924. Both Aretha Franklin and her. They had a one day TV special in London, England. Funeral arrangement under the care ofBrettschneider-Trettin-Nickel, Brettschneider Trettin-Nickel Funeral Chapel 606 N Oneida St, Appleton, WI 54911. Let me tell you, this provocative production is chock full of powerhouse performances. Franklin with his daughter. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Theres a climactic confrontation scene between mother and daughter that is harrowing. Besides, Ward has widely performed gospel music throughout Australia, Japan, Europe, Indonesia, Thailand, and the United States as she led the six-member Clara Ward Singers who dominated the gospel charts in the 1960s and 1970s. Comfort the family with flowers or a sympathy gift. Accordingly, stars such as Marion Williams and Frances Steadman not only had to accept second billing and lesser pay for their work, but pay their employers rent out of their earnings. Under Ward's direction, the group later broadened its appeal and became very show biz oriented, which caused her to be shunned by some gospel singers for religious reasons. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. This is a carousel with slides. Moreover, the singers were charged for housing, thereby having charges for rent deducted from their salaries. You may express your condolences online at www.fcfhs.com . But one of the wills states that Clarence's father. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Clara Ward, 1925-1973: Memorial Tribute, Gospel News Journal, vol. While performing at the Castaways Lounge in Miami Beach, Florida, in the 1960s, Clara collapsed and was rushed to the hospital and told if she recovered she would never sing or walk again. Let us show you how. Clara Ward was born on April 21, 1924 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. SIGNUP FOR OUR FREE WEEKDAY EMAIL NEWSLETTER, "I love receiving EDITORIALLY BLACK first thing in the morning! Clara Darby Ward 1939-2015 Clara Darby Ward, 76, of Pensacola, passed away October 13, 2015. There are no fees to participate, and the program is available even if you haven't been served by our funeral home. You have funeral questions, we have answers. She went on to teach music for the public schools in Michigan, West Virginia and Delaware before she retired after 40 years of dedicated service. However, Clara was never afraid because she knew she was bringing some momentary joy, consolation, and a religious message to soldiers, many of whom would not return home alive, and they really showed their appreciation and enthusiasm for her style of gospel music. A gifted singer and arranger, Ward took the lead-switching style used by male gospel quartets to new height read more. In her biography of Clara, Willa attests that Gertrude worked to prevent Clara from forming any romantic attachments. based on information from your browser. He is alsoa retired teacher and school librarian who is also a stand-up comic, tour guide/docent *Save $550 on a $5,500 funeral plan. Clara Novita Ward was called from this life to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Tuesday morning, December 22. She was tight-fisted about sharing the groups financial success with Claras grossly underpaid back-up singers who she frequently replaced. Preview performances were scrapped while Melanie Loren quickly jumped into the role and she is remarkable. According to Willa Ward's biography of Clara Ward, with the exception of Gertrude and Clara, Willa and other members of the group were grossly underpaid. Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families. Over the years, Gertrude Ward created a booking agency for gospel acts, sponsored tours under the name "The Ward Gospel Cavalcade", established a publishing house for gospel music, and even wrote a book for churches on how to promote gospel programs. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. A gifted singer and arranger, Ward took the lead-switching style used by male gospel quartets to new heights, leaving room for spontaneous improvisation and vamping by each member of the group while giving virtuouso singers such as Marion Williams the opportunity to step forward in songs such as "Surely, God Is Able" (the first million-selling gospel hit), "How I Got Over" (which Clara wrote, one of the most famous songs in the Black gospel repertoire), and "Packin' Up". We have set your language to Clara Ward has died. The Campbell's soon moved to Atlanta to expand the company there. Request yours today. vote! Robert's Obituary Robert A. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Some of the adventures we've had include trips to the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford, tours of the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield, visits to Black Oak Casino, ice cream socials and paint parties. Williams' singing helped make the group nationally popular when they began recording in 1948. But perhaps the groups most startling (and to many traditionalists, upsetting) innovation was the marriage of conventional show business and gospel: they appeared in sequined gowns, forsaking the black choir robes then in vogue; drove fancy Cadillacs; wore towering wigs; and performed with theatrical gestures and a zest and lan never before seen in church music. A newer browser surprising how much a musical selection can affect mourning hang! On this than anyone and she is remarkable Atlanta to expand the there... Organizations Inc. 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