Jacqueline Pryer's Obituary
Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Ward Pryer was born on February 2, 1953 in Memphis, TN. She was the daughter of Hazel Butler and A.D. Ward. By the will of God she was adopted and lovingly nurtured by her maternal grandfather, William Taft Butler and his wife Carrie Allen Butler. She was the second of three children. She departed this earth on Saturday October 3, 2015 at Baptist Memorial Hospital.She was a graduate of Manassas High School and continued her education at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. In 2009, she obtained the Doctorate of Ministry degree from Memphis Theological Seminary. She was employed by FedEx Corporation as an International Customer Service Manager. She retired after sixteen years of employment.She managed and implemented numerous health initiatives. She was an advocate of the National Institute of Health, “We Can!” program, and implemented many activities to support the objectives of helping children between the ages eight and thirteen control weight, improve food choices, increase physical activity and reduce screen time. In 1999, she became a member of the First Fitness, “Miracle Workers Team,” Memphis, TN. Additionally, under the leadership of Bishop Bettye J. Alston, she assisted in numerous community health fairs and seminars.At the age of 15, Jacqueline Ward Pryer confessed Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of her life and began a life-long devotion to Christian service. Her devotion was demonstrated by her love of reading the Bible, worship and singing, and most importantly, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.She will be remembered as a very generous and caring person who loved her family and friends. She was a beloved and loyal member of twenty-five years at New Beginning Ministries Church of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. She served as Assistant Pastor under both the Founding Pastor (Bishop Bettye J. Alston) and the current Pastor, Apostle L. Marie Shipp.She was faithful towards fulfilling the church’s mission of commitment to evangelism, nurturing and maturing Christian growth, and Sabbath Day Worship. She was the Pastor of Education, a leader in the children’s retreat, and executed many fiduciary responsibilities.To cherish her loving memory are: five sons, John (Eugenia) Heard, William Heard, Waverly Edward Pryer III, Michael and Joseph Pryer; from her marital union with Waverly Edward Pryer II, two granddaughters Lenox Heard and Qwantaisa Pryer; one sister, Cynthia (Tina) Smith and one brother Alvon Ward; two nieces Sundra Smith, and Ebony Hurd; 2 nephews Michael and Alvon Ward Jr.; and a host of other friends and family The family will receive friends at Memorial Park on Friday, October 9 from 5:00-7:00PM. The Funeral service will be held at 1:00PM on Saturday, October 10 at 1:00PM. All services will be held at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery.
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