Mrs. Lillian Smith ??Pete? Ward, age 82, of Lumberton, passed away Friday, January 4, 2013 at Southeastern Hospice House of Lumberton. She was born on August 2, 1930 in Lake Waccamaw, NC to the late Harry Lannis Smith and the late Ruth Wooten Smith.

In 1940, her parents took over the operation of the Anchorage dance hall. ??Harry??s Anchorage? was a community gathering place that grew to include a restaurant, bowling alley, hunting club and skating rink. Pete??s fondest childhood memories were of those magical times at the Anchorage with her parents and her brother Harry ??Bunky? Smith.

Pete graduated from Women??s College in Greensboro, NC in 1952 and went to work at Riegel Carolina Corporation. Mutual friend Dick McLean introduced the ??the prettiest girl in Columbus County? to Joseph Carl ??Joe Pete? Ward, Jr. on a blind date, and they were married in September, 1955. Their union was celebrated with a reception at the Anchorage and lasted until her husband??s death in 1999.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Pete was predeceased by her brother Harry Edward Smith; and a granddaughter, Keegan Sue Ward.

Mrs. Ward is survived by two sons, Joseph Carl Ward III and wife, Renee, of Raleigh and John Richard Ward and wife, Megan, of Lumberton; six grandchildren Caneel Ward, Taylor Ward, Jace Ward, Joseph Ward, Chandler Ward, and Anderson Ward; and two nieces she thought of as her daughters, Jane Ward Jernigan (Clay) of Lumberton and Lee Ward of Fayetteville.

Her family and friends will remember Pete as a woman who was quick to laugh and thought every day was special enough to use the silver and the fine china. She loved a long walk on the beach or traveling anywhere with her husband. Pete was most proud of her family and her extensive genealogy work, which was researched and written completely by hand before the internet. She donated all of her findings to the Robeson County library system, where they remain in use today.

A graveside service will be conducted by Dr. David Elks of First Baptist Church on Monday, January 7, 2013 at 11:00 AM at Meadowbrook Cemetery. Burial will follow.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer??s Association of Eastern North Carolina at http://www.alz.org/nc/, to the First Baptist Church Youth Ministries, c/o Keegan Ward Memorial Fund, 606 N. Walnut Street, Lumberton, NC 28358 or to the charity of your choice.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff of Wesley Pines Retirement Community for their care and support over the past five years.