Bessie Mae Ward, 40, of Lancaster, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, July 18, 2022, at the Lancaster General Hospital. Born in Lancaster, she was one of 8 daughters born to the late Walter Ward, Jr. and the late Bessie Mae (Brown) Ward.

Bessie Mae worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant for most of her life, and more recently worked at Emerald Rehab Healthcare in Elizabethtown. She was a very spiritual person; she studied the Holy Bible, continually prayed for her children, and cared for everyone around her. Bessie enjoyed reading, traveling, baking cakes and anything associated with cosmetology.

Bessie is survived by her beloved children: Isaiah "Eli", Aaliyah, Brya, Laquan, and Malachi. Also surviving are seven sisters: Tina Hernandez, Lisamarie Howze-Koroma, Trina Howze, Mary Jenks and her husband Raymond, Rosa Stanford and her husband Ole, Emma Williams and her husband Opotija, and Doris Wood; an uncle, Ernie Brown; an aunt, Morelee Mingle; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her fiancée, Michael D. Dancer, in 2021.

Funeral services for Bessie Mae will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at Bright Side Baptist Church, 515 Hershey Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603, where a viewing will take place beginning at 10:00 AM until time of services. Interment will follow at Mellinger Mennonite Cemetery, Lancaster. Immediately following interment, a repast will be held at the Bright Side Opportunity Center at the above address.