Gayle Mims Ward, of Fairfax Station, Va., passed away on April 10, 2014.

She was born to the late Clifton Hobdy Mims Sr. and Lorene Tucker Mims on April 6, 1942. She graduated Escambia High School in 1960. She attended Huntingdon College and later graduated from the University of South Alabama.

Her life’s work was an amazing blend of loving mother, entrepreneur, X ray technician in Montgomery and eventually medical secretary at Atmore Community Hospital. She retired in 2008 and moved to Fairfax Station, Va., to be closer to her four grandchildren.

She was proud to serve as a Deacon at Burke Presbyterian Church during the last few years of her life. Gayle was an avid photographer who was passionate about all things outdoors: plants, birds, animals, and especially fishing with her brothers.

She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Clifton H. Mims Jr. and Totsie Mims of Atmore and her sons’ families, R. Scott Ward Jr. and Heather Hodavance Ward of Fairfax Station, Va., and Wesley W. Ward and Sandra Crabb Ward of Richmond, Va.

She is also survived by her four beloved grandchildren, Anne Harper Ward, Elizabeth Montague Ward, Robert Clifton Ward and Samuel Vance Ward. She is also survived by the family of her late brother, John Clifton Mims. And more cousins, nieces, and nephews than we are able to count.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday April 26, at Burke Presbyterian Church at 5690 Oak Leather Drive, in Burke, Va. An additional service will be held in Atmore at a future date.