James Paul Ward

Obituary For James Paul Ward

James Paul Ward was born on June 20, 1966, to the late James Ward Jr. and Margaret Terrell. James was raised by his grandparents, the late Paul Ward Sr. and Annie Kate Ward. James attended Greene Taliaferro Comprehensive High School and worked in manufacturing for most of his life.

James is best known for his jokes and his ability to put a smile on everyone’s face. His favorite things to do were to spend time with his family and friends. If you wanted to get the full experience of “Big Mouth Bass” you needed to catch him at the card table with some of his closet family and friends. As soon as you saw that little smirk on his face, you’d know that he was about to get started.

James passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 26, 2025, at Cherry Blossom Health and Rehab. He leaves to cherish his memories with his 2 daughters Shantekia Smith of Macon, GA, Keshia (Tuvorris) Spires of Milledgeville, GA, 2 stepsons Christopher Howell of Toccoa, GA, Laricus (Franquetta) Hall of Athens, GA, and the mother of his children and lifelong friend, Mary Smith of Greensboro, GA, 11 beautiful grandchildren, loving aunts and uncles, close friends Travis Randolph, Travis Monfort, Jimmy Gresham, Jasper Hill, Donald Harris, Jeffrey Lynn, and Charles Ransom to name a few, and a host of caring family and friends.

SERVICE

Friday, January 2, 2026

1:00 P.M.

Watts Funeral Home Chapel

Union Point, Georgia 30669

Kayode Omotayo, Officiating