Lena “Tootsie” Johanna Holtsclaw Ward, 86, of Elizabethton, passed away Tuesday, December 3, 2019, at Signature Health Care.
A native of Carter County, she was a daughter of the late Russell B. and Salley Ferguson Holtsclaw.
Lena was a 1953 graduate of Hampton High School where she was a member of the Hampton Bulldogs Basketball team. She was an avid Lady Vols fan. She was a member of Siam Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 59 years, Arthur Beryl Ward, and by four sisters and three brothers.
Survivors include her daughters, Judy (Gary) Hatley and Annette (Douglas) McCloud, all of Elizabethton; her grandsons, J.B. (Brandy) Hatley, Brandon (Lauren) McCloud and Bryan McCloud; her granddaughter, Stacey Hatley; great-grandchildren, Anna Hatley, Adria Hatley and Katie Widner; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 7 p.m. Thursday, December 5, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with Pastor Dennis Wilson officiating. Music will be provided by Frank Eads. Entombment will be at 10 a.m. Friday, December 6, in the Mausoleum of Peace at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Glen Maney, Terry Lewis, Gary Hatley, Bryan McCloud, Brandon McCloud, J.B. Hatley and Doug McCloud. Honorary pallbearer will be Delbert Holtsclaw. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to the staff of Signature Health and Chaplain Doug Hinshaw for the excellent care she received during her stay. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 9:20 a.m. Friday to go in procession to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website at www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Ward family.