Jerry Gilbert "Golf" Ward

Jerry “Golf” Gilbert Ward, 94, took the fairway to heaven on December 18, undoubtedly calling out his signature line—“Hello hole!”—as he sank his final putt, loud enough for St. Peter to look up from the scorecard. Jerry arrived well-dressed, on time, and probably offering swing tips.

Born and raised in Asheboro, North Carolina, Jerry was voted Most Witty at Asheboro High School, a distinction he treated less like an honor and more like a lifelong job description. He studied business at UNC Chapel Hill before serving in the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Hawaii—a deployment he considered excellent planning. There, he married his classmate and lifelong partner, Joyce Lucas Ward, beginning a marriage that lasted 60 years and included countless laughs, eye rolls, and perfectly delivered one-liners.

Jerry spent his career in the furniture manufacturing industry and gave back generously to his hometown through service on the Asheboro City Council and support of his beloved Asheboro Zoo. He believed deeply in civic duty, community, and dressing properly for any occasion. Jerry was known for his sharp wit and impeccable style, firmly believing that how you showed up mattered—and Jerry always showed up looking like he had somewhere important to be, even if it was just the grocery store.

While he enjoyed many sports, golf was his true love and lifelong obsession. Jerry didn’t merely play the game; he studied it, mastered it, and even crafted his own golf clubs with care and precision—because if something could be done better, Jerry intended to do it himself. Known to his eight grandchildren as “Golf,” he wore the nickname like a championship green jacket. He was recently blessed with four great-grandchildren, all already showing signs of inheriting his quick wit and his uncanny ability to turn a missed putt into a moral victory.

Jerry was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 60 years, Joyce; his son-in-law, David Haskett; and his parents, Christine Miller Ward Gray and John Buchanan “JB” Ward Jr.

He is survived by his daughters, Ginger Heskett of Asheboro; Julie Payne (Jim) of Barbados; and Joi Lee (Bill) of Greenville, North Carolina; eight grandchildren—Remy, Robert, Eric (Lanie), Alexis (Neil), Wil, Rachel (Scott), Ashton (Joe), and Jennie (Arne); four great-grandchildren, affectionately and competitively known as Ragnar (Jerry 1), Emerson (Geri 2), Sawyer (Gerri 3), and Joey (Jerry 4); and his godchild, Adam Luckenbach of Seattle, Washington.

Jerry’s life will be remembered as one filled with laughter, birdies, confidence on the tee box, and perfectly timed punchlines. He taught us that when in doubt, just swing, smile, and enjoy your time here. Jerry is now playing the ultimate course—lush fairways, perfect greens, no lost balls—and is undoubtedly explaining to anyone within earshot how they almost got that shot right.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to First Tee–Sandhills (www.firstteesandhill.org), Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, or a charity of your choosing. A celebration of life is being planned for the new year—dress well, laugh often, and don’t forget to yell “Hello hole!”