Mariellen Ward

Mariellen Roberts Ward’s faith was made sight on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at her home in Greenville, VA.

Mari was born on January 14, 1948, in Fremont, Ohio to Howard Earl Roberts,Sr. and Christie Ellen Roberts.

She was raised in Weston, OH attending local schools and the Weston Church of Christ. She attended Bowling Green State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lincoln Christian University in Lincoln, IL in 1971. In 1993, LCU named her a distinguished alumna in the field of Christian Education. Mari’s education career began at Mountain Mission School in Grundy, VA where she served for four years. While there she met and married a fellow teacher, John Mark Ward, and in 1976 upon marrying they relocated to Augusta County. Mari then began a forty-year career with the Weekday Religious Education program teaching at Wilson, Stump, Ladd and Stuarts Draft Elementary. She also served ten years as the director of the Fairfield Presbyterian Church Preschool program.

Mari and John co-founded Raphine Christian Church in 1976 in Greenville and she served faithfully there for forty-eight years. They remain most proud of their three sons, three foster children, and eight grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband, John, of Greenville, her sons, Elijah (Jennifer) of Poquoson, VA; Micah (Amy) of Charlotte, NC, and Jordan (Jazmyn) of Fredericksburg, VA; her two foster sons, Josh Dudley and Adam Mays; her grandsons, Samuel Mark, John Warner, Matthew John, Cameron Micah, and Zuriel Ruben; her granddaughters, Grace Elizabeth, Kira Williams, and Iris Mercer; her brother, Howard Roberts; her sister, Deborah (David) Reynal; her brothers-in-law, Avery Ward (Jane) and Jeffery Ward (Kathryn); and her nieces, nephews, and countless friends, as well as the church body at Raphine Christian.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her sister, Patricia (Patsy) Baker; her brother-in-law, William Baker; and her foster daughter, SGT Caryn Reynal.

Special thanks to Dana Cash for her years of friendship and love. Great appreciation to Augusta Health Hospice of the Shenandoah for outstanding care, and the loving Riverheads community for acts of love and support.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Raphine Christian Church in Greenville, VA.

A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, April 5, 2025, in the Cecil Layman Auditorium at Riverheads High School.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider donating to the East Augusta and Riverheads Weekday Religious Education Programs or to Mountain Mission School of Grundy, VA. These donations may be sent to Raphine Christian Church (P.O. Box 10, Greenville, VA 24440) and will be sent immediately to the designated ministry.