Ward B. Pafford

Family-Placed Death Notice

PAFFORD, Ward B. DR. WARD B. PAFFORD Dr. Ward B. Pafford, President Emeritus of the University of West Georgia, former Dean of the College at Valdosta State University and past Chairman of the English Department at Emory University, passed away on January 23, 2011 at Arbor Terrace in Decatur, Georgia. Born on October 25th, 1911 in Jesup, Georgia, Dr. Pafford was the son of the late Bascom Anthony Pafford and Jeanette Dukes Pafford. A graduate of Savannah High School, he received his A.B. and M.A. degrees from Emory University, and his PhD from Duke University. Dr. Pafford began his teaching career at Moultrie High School, and later served as instructor in English at Clemson College, assistant professor of English at Emory Junior College in Valdosta, Georgia, and professor of English at Emory University. From 1953 until 1958, he was Chairman of the English department at Emory, where he later became Director of Graduate Studies in English. In 1966, he was named Dean of the College at Valdosta State University, where he later served as Vice President and Dean of Faculties. In 1971, Dr. Pafford was named President of West Georgia College (now The University of West Georgia), a position he held until his retirement in 1975. He was a member of Sigma Chi, Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa. He was the author of many scholarly articles, as well as numerous newspaper articles and published poems. His areas of study and research concentrated on 19th-century English literature and romantic poetry. During his academic career, he was associate editor of the South Atlantic Bulletin, a managing chairman of the editorial board of the Emory University Quarterly, and a member of the south Atlantic Modern Language Association. He was a voracious reader, and an avid fan of baseball and golf - a sport he worked diligently to conquer over the years. Dr. Pafford was predeceased by his cherished wife of 48 years, Sarah Jones (Sally) Pafford, his second wife, Ellen Nooe Rose Pafford, and his sister, Helen Pafford Bukowick. He leaves behind his daughter Connie Pafford Broom and her husband James M. Broom, Jr.; daughter Martha Pafford Schindhelm and her husband Robert K. Schindhelm; grandson Matt Broom and his wife Sheri; grandson Ward Broom and his wife Donna; granddaughter Joanna Schindhelm Coe, and granddaughter Jessica Maria Schindhelm and her husband, Joseph M. Ferrara, and great-grandchildren Clay and Max Broom, Ben and Riley Coe, and Anne and Oscar Ferrara. Survivors also include his adored stepchildren Reverend Margaret Rose and her daughters Hannah and Miriam Baker; Richard Rose, his wife Catherine and their three sons, Richard, Jr., Turner and Davis; and Frank Rose III and Christopher Rose, sons of the late Frank Rose, Jr., and Barclay and Charles Cunningham, the children of the late Georgeann Rose Cunningham. Dr. Pafford also leaves many cherished cousins, nieces and nephews. A memorial service will take place at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Carrollton, Georgia at a date to be announced. Interment at Riverdale Cemetery in Columbus, Georgia, will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Dr. Pafford's memory be made to the Sally Pafford Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o The University of West Georgia, 1601 Maple St., Carrollton, GA. 30118-0001, Hospice Atlanta, 1244 Park Vista Dr., Atlanta, Ga. 30319, or Saint Margaret's Episcopal Church, 606 Newnan St., Carrollton, GA 30117. A. S. Turner & Sons.