Obituary of Pennie Cox Ward

After 95 years, our loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother went to Heaven to be with our Lord on Saturday, June 15, 2019. Her devotion to her family and firm belief in God supported her through life and ultimately gave her peace. Pennie Cox Brown Ward was born in Burgaw, NC on November 8, 1923 to the late Van L. Cox and Frances McCoy Cox. She was raised with 2 brothers and 4 sisters. In 1944, she married Charles H. Brown, who preceded her in death in 1972.  As a supportive and loving military wife, she moved with him to various places including Fayetteville, NC where their only child, Shirley, was born. After the family returned from a deployment in France, they settled in Columbia, SC. When Shirley married, she gained a son, James Douglas McCall. She was blessed with two granddaughters, Michelle Renee and Kelley Denise. Miss Pennie also welcomed two grandsons by marriage, Steven Bennett Garrett and James Stephen Foy, as well as three great grandchildren, Allison Katherine, Victoria Alizabeth, and James Stephen Jr. 

Miss Pennie held various jobs throughout her life, including work in a shirt factory, a bakery and finally retiring from the assembly line at Monroe Systems. But, her favorite career was being a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. This amazing woman enjoyed cooking, doing word searches, watching Jeopardy, taking care of her yard and spending time with her family. She touched everyone who knew her with her quiet spirit, kindness and determination. Miss Pennie was a long and faithful member of Oakwood Baptist Church. For the last six years, she resided in Wilmington, NC with her daughter and son-in-law who cared for her and provided her with her favorite pastime of sitting on the back porch swing.

Her spirit is carried on through her daughter, Shirley and son-in-law, Doug; 2 granddaughters, Michelle and Kelley; 3 great-grandchildren; and 2 sisters, Annie Lee and Marigold. She is reunited with her loving husband; 2 brothers and 2 sisters who passed before her.

Services will be held at Thompson Funeral Home in West Columbia on Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a graveside gathering at Greenlawn Memorial Park, Garners Ferry Road. Visitation with her family will be held 1 hour prior to the service at 10:00 a.m.  Charitable donations in her memory can be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice of Wilmington, NC.