Ernest Wright “Gus” Ward Sr., 76, of 148 Mahan St., Suffolk, died Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, at Sentara Obici Hospital. He was a native of Suffolk and the son of the late Samuel Ward and Hazel Wright Magee.

He retired from Smith & Douglas Fertilizer Company. He was a former member of Macedonia AME Church.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Helen P. Ward; one special daughter, Patricia “Mama” Ward, of Suffolk; seven sons, Ernest Ward Jr. (Diane), Karl Ward, Steve Ward (Eva), Gary Ward (Phyllis), Carlos Ward (Evelyn), Nathaniel Jones (Jean), all of Suffolk, and Antwon Ward, of Petersburg, Va.; one brother, Samuel Wright, of Washington D.C.; 17 grandchildren, a host of great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren; special granddaughter and grandson, Arnisa Ward and Carlos Ward Jr., of Suffolk; special niece, Deleshia Hart, of Washington, D.C.; devoted cousin, Cindy Wright; other nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, at First Baptist Church, 112 Mahan St., officiated by the Rev. George Smith. Interment will be in Holly Lawn Cemetery. Crocker Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.crockerfuneralhome.com.