b. August 2, 1935

by Charles K. (Ken) McCotter, Jr., Christ Episcopal Church, New Bern, NC, 2016

Few women have had a more diverse and important leadership role in Christ Church, New Bern, than Elizabeth Ward.

Elizabeth was born in High Point, North Carolina, where she was brought up in the Methodist Church and attended and graduated from two Episcopal schools: Stuart Hall and St. Mary’s Junior College. Following her graduation from St. Mary’s, she attended UNC-Chapel Hill where she graduated in 1957, married David Livingstone Ward, Jr. in 1958, and moved to Durham where David attended Duke Law School. While living in Durham, Elizabeth was confirmed in the Episcopal Church. After David’s graduation from Duke Law School, they moved to his hometown of New Bern in 1962 and followed the family tradition of membership in Christ Church. David joined the family law firm which is now known as Ward and Smith. Elizabeth concentrated on raising a family of Marty, Leah, and Dave while participating in numerous community activities. She became a member of the Craven County Art Gallery where she worked diligently and effected a merger with the Craven County Arts Council to form the New Bern Craven County Arts Council and Gallery. She also served as a Gray Lady at the hospital, delivered Meals-on-Wheels and among other activities, served as chair of the New Bern-Craven County Public Library Board and was involved in leadership roles raising funds for the expansion and renovation of the library facility.

At Christ Church, she taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, served on the altar guild for 20 years and was a member of Episcopal Church Women, serving at one point as its chair. She was elected to the parish Vestry and was named Senior Warden during the critical transition between the long rectorate of the Rev. Ed Sharp and the selection of a new rector, the Rev. Bob Dannals.

Elizabeth Ward and Ken Chance led Christ Church through a major capital campaign, which raised $6,500,000.00, to support the first major renovation and construction project at Christ Church in over 50 years. Completed in 2009, this project, with its beautiful chapel, and a multipurpose Harrison Center greatly expanded parish outreach in downtown New Bern.

Elizabeth has also played an active role in the Diocese of East Carolina. She represented the parish in diocesan conventions, and was selected to represent the Diocese for two terms on the Board of St. Mary’s School, was on the diocesan Executive Committee, and became president of The Episcopal Foundation of the Diocese of East Carolina.