Marcia Talley Ward, of Germantown, passed away on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at the age of 75.

Marcia leaves behind two daughters, Heather Jolene Ward and Melanie Ward Brady; one son-in-law, James Lee Brady; and her two grandchildren; Eli and Nadia. She was preceded in death by her husband of 36 years, Richard Gordon Ward, and her father, James Thomas Talley.  Her mother, Essie Mae Talley,  joined her in heaven just two days later on January 17, 2022.

Marcia grew up in the Mid-South, the third child in a family of seven.  Despite not having much growing up, they made the most of all they had, figuring out how to stretch a dollar as far as they could. In her young adult years, she worked in finance as an accountant and couldn't wait until she became a mom. Marcia was a Christian who loved the word of God and tried to see how many times she could read her Bible all the way through. For much of her life, Marcia was known as a skilled and compassionate caregiver to both her immediate and extended family. After taking care of her beloved husband Richard during his 10-year battle with Lou Gehrig's disease, she continued to be the first person by her family's side when they needed help or care. She would show up with meals, supplies, knowledge and her signature take-charge presence. She said the one thing she never wanted to be in life was a nurse, but the circumstances of her life often required her to step into that role.  As a result she was able to share so much of that medical knowledge & experience she had gained whenever it was needed.  If she didn't know the answer she would commit to thoroughly research the answer. Marcia enjoyed gardening, and cooking; she was famous for her cheesecake, pecan pies and Mac-and-cheese at family gatherings/events. She loved looking after her mother and her many siblings. She was with her daughters any chance she could get. More than anything in her later years, Marcia adored being "Grams" to her grandchildren, Eli and Nadia.

Visitation will be held Monday, January 24, 2022 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at Longview Heights Baptist Church at 4501 Goodman Road in Olive Branch, Mississippi with funeral services starting at 12:00 pm. Burial will follow at Forest Hill South Cemetery 2545 E Holmes Road, Memphis, TN 38118 .

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) or to the Memphis Veterans Affairs of Memphis.