Melba Priscilla Ward

1942 - 2021

Melba "Priscilla" (Cox) Ward, age 78, passed away on February 21, 2021 at Shore Regional Hospital at Easton. She was born on December 16, 1942 in Louisiana, the daughter of Ralph H. Cox and Melba C. (Silcox) Cox. Priscilla and her older sister Cynthia Cox Goff grew up in Live Oak, Suwannee County, Florida. Priscilla graduated from Suwannee County High School at age 17. She graduated from Florida State University with her degree in education in 1964 and later receive her master's degree in education in 1980 from John's Hopkins University. Priscilla's first teaching position was at Normandy Village Elementary School in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1965, she met Lt. Trenwith (Tren) Rockwell Ward (US Naval Acad. Grad) and they were married on May 21, 1966. Over her teaching Career, Priscilla founded the Magothy Cooperative Preschool in 1974 which is still in operation. She taught first grade, third grade, and pre-kindergarten at several different schools. Her last position was at Germantown Elementary School in Annapolis, MD as the pre- k teacher. She was Anne Arundel County Teacher of the year in 1997 and was one of the top 10 finalist for Maryland State Teacher in 1997. Priscilla was an active member of Magothy United Methodist Church and then at Kent Island United Methodist. In her later years, she continued to do the baby basket ministry for new babies at church and took great pride in putting together beautiful baskets. Priscilla was an extremely loving and giving woman who was a great inspiration to her husband, children, grandchildren, friends, and the many children she taught throughout the years. She will be greatly missed! In addition to being predeceased by her parents, she is also predeceased by her son David Rockwell Ward. Priscilla is survived by her husband Tren Ward, her daughter Jennifer L. Ward Treff, her son Matthew R. Ward, her son- in -law Gregory A. Treff, her daughter -in- Law, Sherri Ward and her four Grandchildren, David Ralph Treff, Ryan Nathaniel Ward, Benjamin Gregory Treff, Jacob Harrison Ward,her sister Cynthia Cox Goff and brother-in-law Charles Goff. A memorial service will be held at Kent Island United Methodist Church in Chester, MD on Friday, February 26, 2021 at 11 AM.