Matthew Ward stepped forward to serve his community at a time of tremendous sorrow following the unexpected death of long-time Pitt County Board of Education member Michael Dixon. During his time in office, Ward distinguished himself as a thoughtful voice for his constituents, winning the respect of colleagues for his approach to the public’s business.

By all accounts, Ward was an upstanding, compassionate and giving individual whose guiding hand of a church in Winterville made his transition to public office virtually seamless. It is therefore with deep sadness that the community received news of his death on Sunday, and with expressions of sincere gratitude that it should look on Ward’s all-too-brief time on the school board.

The family and friends of Matthew Ward are surely in shock today as they were on Sunday when they learned of his death at the age of 56. His congregation at the Haddocks United American Free Will Baptist Church is without a pastor today, and they will need the positive thoughts of the community as this difficult time slowly fades into a period of healing.

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