* Evelyn C. Ward; Retired Receptionist

Evelyn Courtney Branche Ward, a retired receptionist, died Friday at her home in Oxnard. She was 77.

She was born Aug. 13, 1923, in Worcester, Mass., and was raised in Hartford, Conn. by her grandparents. She attended Hartford public schools and graduated in 1941 from Weaver High School.

On Dec. 18, 1945, she married Granville B. Ward, and the couple had nine children.

She joined Shiloh Baptist Church in Hartford at an early age and for many years worked for the church in many capacities. She particularly enjoyed gospel music and was a member of several Shiloh choirs. She was a charter member of the Parsonettes Gospel Choir for more than 30 years until the group disbanded in the early 1980s.

She was also employed as a receptionist by the American Baptist Churches of Connecticut for 22 years before retiring in 1987. Two years later, she relocated to Oxnard.

She was preceded in death by her daughter Lois Ward, brother Clyde Thompson and sister Helen T. Hall.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by sons Granville B. Ward Jr. of Port Hueneme and Crittenden K. Ward, both of Port Hueneme, and Gregory D. Ward of Oxnard; daughters Dr. Dawn Burney Jenkins of Jacksonville, Fla.; Sybil A. Ward, Deborah E. Ward and Dr. Andrette T. Ward, all of Los Angeles, and Dr. L. Monique Ward of Ann Arbor, Mich.; sisters Alyce Johnson of Windsor, Conn., and Joan Taylor Branche of Federal Way, Wash.; 16 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled at 10 a.m. Friday at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Oxnard.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to your favorite scholarship.

Arrangements are under the direction of Garcia Mortuary, Oxnard.