Sandra Gail Ward's Obituary
Sandra Gail Ward, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and woman of extraordinary faith, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of Thursday, April 30, 2026, at her residence in Bixby, Oklahoma. She was 72 years old.
Born on May 16, 1953, in LaGrange, Georgia, Sandra was the daughter of Virgil Thornhill and Mamie Lucille Rigsby Martin. She grew up in LaGrange, where she was shaped by the values of faith, family, and community that would define her remarkable life. She was a proud graduate of Troup County High School, Class of 1971.
It was at the Assembly of God Tabernacle in Atlanta that Sandra met the love of her life, Paul Ward. The two were united in marriage on her birthday, May 16, and together they built a life of purpose, adventure, and devotion. They raised their only daughter, Terri, in Fayetteville, Georgia, before eventually making their home in Bixby, Oklahoma.
Sandra's professional life was marked by decades of dedicated service. She served as administrator for Hageman Dentistry in Dallas, Texas, for 48 years - a testament to her loyalty, competence, and the deep relationships she cultivated wherever she served.
Yet it was her calling to ministry that revealed the full depth of Sandra's spirit. She served as senior co-pastor for four churches and traveled internationally on mission trips to 34 countries, carrying her faith to the ends of the earth. She was honored in her later years when an orphanage in Kenya was named in her memory - a tribute befitting a woman who gave so generously of herself to those in need. She also served as a keynote speaker alongside pastors Billy Joe and Sharon Daugherty in Ukraine, bringing her message of hope and grace to audiences far from home.
Sandra was the founder of the Women of Excellence, a ministry through which she hosted hundreds of events, inspiring and equipping women across the region and beyond. She was also a gifted author, penning two books - The Judas Kiss and Solomon's Secret - which reflected both her theological depth and her gift for storytelling. In 1999, she was named runner-up in the Miss Texas pageant, a reflection of her grace, poise, and the warmth she radiated throughout her life.
Among Sandra's great joys was the time she shared with her husband, Paul. Together, the couple embarked on 105 cruises - a beautiful expression of a partnership built on love, laughter, and a shared love of adventure.
Sandra is survived by her devoted husband, Paul Ward; her daughter, Terri Reagin and son-in-law Kelly Reagin; her grandchildren, Michael and Sandra Bradshaw; and her brother, Frank Thornhill and his wife Elaine, along with several nieces and nephews who cherished her deeply.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Virgil Thornhill and Mamie Lucille Rigsby Martin, and by her beloved siblings Joann, Ginger, Virgil, and Arthur.
Sandra Gail Ward lived a life that touched every corner of the world and left an indelible mark on all who knew her. She was a pastor, a pioneer, an author, an adventurer, and above all, a woman of immovable faith. Her legacy will endure in the lives she transformed, the ministries she founded, and the love she lavished on her family.
"Well done, good and faithful servant."
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