Cynthia Denise Ward

Cynthia Denise Ward, born in Tallahassee, Florida, and a lifelong resident of Trenton, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2025. Born on November 30, 1956, Cynthia was part of a generation whose families moved north during the Second Great Migration - a movement of Black Americans seeking better opportunities, education, and equality during the civil rights era. Her family settled in Trenton in the early 1960s, where she grew deep roots in the community that became her home.
Educated in the Trenton Public School System, Cynthia went on to dedicate many years of hard work and care through her service in the food industry. She was a devoted employee of Lawrence Prep School and Trenton State College, where her cooking and her personality were equally memorable - warm, bold, and full of flavor.
A member of Gailee Baptist Church, Cynthia's connection to her community ran deep. She was known for her generosity, her loyalty, civic engagement, and her ability to tell it like it is - a true firecracker with a heart of gold.
Cynthia's passions were many, but none greater than cooking for the people she loved. Her meals were filled with laughter, storytelling, and the kind of flavor that came straight from the soul. In her younger years, she loved to ride her bike through the city. When she wasn't in the kitchen, she could be found working on embroidery projects, shopping at Columbus Market, or bragging about, and playing with, her beloved grandchildren. She was strong-willed and did things her own way, but those who knew her best understood that every tough word or sharp look came from a place of deep love.
Cynthia was preceded in death by her mother, Pearl Curry; father, Benjamin Ward Sr.; sister, Renita Ward; brother, Samuel Ward; and niece, Shealynne Ward.
She leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, and laughter through her children, Jeuan Ward of North Carolina and Yolanda Simmons-Ward (Roshunda) of Burlington, NJ; her brothers, Benjamin Ward (Vera) of Lawrenceville, NJ, and Tacuma Blackshear of Trenton, NJ; and her cherished grandchildren - Elijah Ward, Imani Ward, Layla Ward, Josiah Ward, Austin Simmons-Ward, and Ari Simmons-Ward.
Cynthia's spirit - fiery, loyal, and full of life - will continue to inspire everyone who was lucky enough to know her. She lived her life unapologetically, loved deeply, and left behind memories that will keep her light burning bright in the hearts of her family and friends.