Marsha Zimmerman Ward

Marsha Annette Zimmerman Ward, 55, of Gibsonville took her final earthly breath Monday, June 16, at the AuthoraCare Hospice Home in Burlington. This came after a valiant four-month battle with bile duct cancer.

Marsha was born Sept. 14, 1969, to Marshall Van Zimmerman and Hazel Vernett Hackett Zimmerman. She was married for more than 31 years to Kurt Ward, whom she met while they were students at Appalachian State University. Marsha and Kurt were married August 14, 1993, and they had the honor of serving as the parents of three children.

Marsha taught accounting and other business classes for nearly 29 years, first at Grimsley High School in Greensboro and then at her alma mater Western Alamance High in Elon. Her teaching legacy will continue into the future, not only through the lessons she previously taught her students, but also because her body has been donated to Duke University’s School of Medicine to assist future medical professionals.

Her teaching career followed stints in several corporate accounting positions including with Timberland Shoe Company in Boone and Xpedx Paper Company in Greensboro.

She also served in various ministry positions, most recently through the ministries of Northside Fellowship in Burlington. A phenomenal cook, she often prepared meals for large groups, including those in the church, at the high school and through her children’s various group activities, including dance. She demonstrated love and ministered to the needs of others through her prepared meals. Among her specialties were pasta salad and chili, which regularly took first place in area chili cook-offs.

She was a 1987 graduate of Western Alamance and earned multiple degrees from Appalachian State University.

She is survived by her husband Kurt; along with her three children, Ashley Bevill (Price) of Raleigh, Brad Ward of Chicago, Ill., and Casey Ward of Gibsonville; her parents, Marshall and Vernett Zimmerman of Burlington; a brother, Michael “Ziggy” Zimmerman (Tracey) of Burlington; and many extended family members through birth, marriage and her church.

The family will celebrate Marsha’s life with a service at 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 19, at Westside Fellowship Church, 1651 NC Highway 87 North, Elon, NC 27244. The family will receive friends at the church immediately following the service and other times at the home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either Northside Fellowship, 513 Homewood Avenue, Burlington, NC 27217, www.mynorthsidefamily.org; or Burlington Animal Shelter, 221 Stone Quarry Road, Burlington, NC 27217.