Rev. Joseph Eugene (Gene) Ware
Funeral Notice
Rev. Joseph Eugene (Gene) Ware, 92, of Auburn (formerly of LaGrange) died Friday, May 22, 2020 at University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at Vines Funeral Home Chapel, LaFayette at 12:30 p.m. (CST) with Rev. Eric Ware officiating. Interment was in Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Roanoke (Standing Rock).
Born Sept. 30, 1927, in Troup County, GA, Joseph was the third-born son of the late Pierce and Annie Mabel Ferrell Ware. At the young age of 24, Joseph was inducted into the U.S. Army. He was a veteran of the Korean War and stationed in Germany during his military service.
In 1954, in Pittsburg, Pa., he met and married the former Beulah Mae Mozee of Blakely, GA, and the couple moved to California where their two children, Steven Eugene and Sheryl Lynn, were born and raised.
Joseph maintained membership in Baptist churches and served in various positions of leadership, including deacon, teacher and superintendent of Sunday school in Elizabeth Missionary Baptist and St. Luke Missionary Baptist Churches in Richmond, Calif. In 1974, he accepted God’s call to serve in ministry, and after several years, served as assistant pastor at Bayo Vista Baptist Church, Rodeo, Calif., and Rose of Sharon Baptist Church, Berkeley, Calif. He soon was appointed pastor at Rose of Sharon, and later served as pastor at St. Joseph’s Missionary Baptist Church in Vacaville, CA.
An industrious man, Rev. Ware believed in business ownership and supported his family through various entrepreneurial roles, such as gas service station owner, independent construction contractor (California) and restaurant owner (LaGrange,GA); however, the call to pulpit forever remained his most cherished vocation. He took every chance he was given to tell a listener about the goodness of the Lord.
In 1989, Joseph and Beulah moved back to the Southeast to LaGrange, GA, where he assumed the pastoral role at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. In his latter years, he reconnect-ed with their family church, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Roanoke (Standing Rock) AL.
Always one with a heart to give, Joseph volunteered at hospitals and nursing homes to give haircuts to male patients and pray with them. In addition, he enjoyed his work with the Senior Companion Program in LaGrange, where he sat with homebound patients. Whenever someone asked or wherever he saw a need, he was quick to respond without expectation of reciprocity. “Loan” was not in his vocabulary. He gave freely and without hesitation. The Rev. Joseph Ware will always be remembered for his charisma, generosity, sense of humor and honest conversation, but, most importantly, for his love for others exemplified both in his delivery of God’s Word to everyone he met and the sermon of his living example.
Joseph Ware is preceded in death by his wife, Beulah Mae Ware; son, Steven Eugene Ware; brothers, William Ware, Emory Ware and Edward Ware. He is survived by his daughter, Sheryl Ware Smith (Charles) of Auburn; daughter-in-love, Lisa Farrow of LaGrange; sister, Mabel Ware Winston of California; sister-in-law, Ernestine Ware of Roanoke, AL; grand-children, Justin Smith of Houston, Texas, Cameryn Smith of Auburn, AL and Naiylah Ware and Nyles Ware, both of Sacramento, Calif.; granddaughter-in-love, Sheneka Lewis ( Jay) of LaGrange, GA; and great-grandchildren-in-love, KaLisa Lynch, Jordan Lewis and Jazmyne Lewis, all of LaGrange, GA. Rev. Joseph Ware will be remembered fondly by his many nieces, nephews, cousins, church members and friends across this country.
The family of Rev. Ware wishes to extend sincere gratitude to the caregivers at Magnolia Place Assisted Living in Auburn, East Alabama Medical Center, Opelika, UAB Hospital Acute Trauma Care Unit and the UAB Palliative Comfort Care Unit in Birmingham.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Rev. Joseph E. Ware may be mailed to: Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 4524 County Rd. 87, Roanoke, AL 36274 AND/OR UAB Palliative and Supportive Care, Attn: UAB Gift Records, AB 1230 1720 2nd Ave. S., Birmingham, AL 35294-0112 or online at http://www.uab.edu/give/cpsc .
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Comments/Condolences
WALTER LESLIE
I was introduced to Rev. Ware by my father, Leroy Leslie, to whom Rev. Ware was a companion. I immediately recognized him as a gentle soul. I know he is already missed by many here, but he has earned the ultimate promotion. All who came in contact with him have been blessed and can remember him fondly. To the family, take it to God and prayer. He will provide you everything you need to make it through this storm with greater understanding. God bless.
DOROTHY WARE
Sheryl it is great sadness to hear about your dad. I tried to find him but I had no contact info. Sheryl please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you God bless, your cousin here in Lagrange, ga.
VICKI GORNTO
I had the pleasure of recruiting Reverend Ware to volunteer with the Senior Companion Program. He was such a sweet man, always willing to give his time to help others. I have thought of him fondly over the years. I know he is happy to be in his heavenly home with Beulah.
MICHAEL.SMITH
We are going to miss you
PATTY OLSON JARRETT
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Mr Ware lived across the hall from my mother for the past few years at Magnolia. He was always such a smiling, kind man. He and mom sat together a lot. Mom always was a good judge of character before Alzheimer’s and always knew a good heart. After reading his obituary, It was beautiful to see she still has that gift. I know she will miss his friendship, even in her confusion. I hope all of your wonderful memories of him will bring you comfort in the years to come.
THE PRICE AND CUMBERLANDER FAMILY, LANETT, ALA.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. May the memories you carry with you bring you comfort in the days ahead. With heartfelt sympathy we are thinking of you and keeping you in our prayers.
JESSE, CHARLOTTE AND PATRICE ABNER
Our prayers are with you during this time. Rev. Ware was a very caring man and always smiling.
HOPEWELL BAPTIST CHURCH
We pray the Lord continue to watch over you all. Rev. Ware will be missed. He is in a better place now. Home in Heaven where one day we will see him again. You all are in our thoughts and prayers. Hopewell Baptist Church and Rev. and Sister Douglas Jones Sr. pastor.
ABNER FAMILY. WADLEY ALABAMA
You all are in our thoughts and prayers. Our angel is at rest in God's arms now. We know it is so sweet just to know one day we will see him again. He is home and free. R.I.P. Rev. Ware in Heaven where we all must go one day. Joyce, Lesia, Tracey. Curtis Abner and Families.
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