Gary Anthony Ward
1971 - 2024
Gary Anthony Ward (Sergio) of Kernersville, North Carolina passed away on August 21st, 2024 after a short illness at the age of 53.
Gary, also known as Sergio to his many friends and fans, held many titles: security officer at Wake Forest University, DJ for Jet Set Jazz Radio on WQFS, personal trainer, life coach and ordained minister.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents Martha (Franklin) Scott and Gary E. Ward (Pete), sister Gretchen Smith and nephew Ryne Hailey and sister-in-law Chari Ward. He is survived by brothers Blake (Terri) Ward, Jonas Ward, sister Valerie (Mike) York; nephew Taylor (Maricella) York; nieces Gretchen (Stephen) Neitz, Jessica (John) Flanagan, Charlotte (Nick) Cardwell; Great-nieces Charlize Flanagan, Montana Cardwell, June Nietz, Great-nephew Forrest Flanagan.
Gary never met a stranger and was a delightful person to all that that knew him from work, fitness centers, O. Henry hotel where he enjoyed jazz and The Brewer’s kettle where he enjoyed and participated in Friday night karaoke. He was known all through Kernersville and surrounding towns as a true friend to many!
A funeral service will be held on August 30th in Wait Chapel at Wake Forest University, 1834 Wake Forest Road, Winston-Salem, North Carolina at 11:30 AM.
In lieu of flower’s, expressions of sympathy in his memory may be made to Saint Jude’s children’s research hospital or any animal rescue.
Sergio, you were a dedicated security officer and an exceptional individual who was not only a pleasure to supervise but also an integral part of our community at Wake Forest University.
Sergio embodied the true spirit of service. His dedication to his job was unmatched, and his positive attitude was infectious. Every day, he brought a sense of commitment and responsibility that set a standard for us all. He had a profound love for Wake Forest University and took great pride in ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone on our campus.
Beyond his professional excellence, Sergio was a man of varied passions. His love of jazz music was well-known among his colleagues, often sharing his favorite tunes and discussing the intricacies of the genre. He was also an avid fan of wrestling, finding joy and excitement in the sport. And, of course, his dedication to fitness was evident; he made working out a priority, inspiring others to take care of their health and well-being.
Supervising someone like Sergio was a privilege. He approached each task with enthusiasm, and his commitment to doing the job right was unwavering. His work ethic, combined with his warm personality, made him not only a great employee but also a cherished friend to many.
He will be deeply missed, but his legacy of dedication, passion, and kindness will live on in all of us who had the honor of knowing him.
Rest in peace, Sergio. Will take on watch from here.
Sincerely,
Major Derri G. Stormer
Sergio,
or Mr.Sergio as I would call him, was always a bright face in the gym or whenever I would see him around campus. I truly valued the positive energy that he would always have in the conversations that he would engage in with us students. He will be missed and I know God truly did bring him home , sending love and prayers to the family
Dear Ward Family and friends,
I have known Sergio since he came to work at Wake Forest in 2006 and he and I hit it off from the beginning. Both of us were men of the past living in the present and like me, Sergio marched to the beat of his own drum. Sergio was always that happy go lucky guy that was always high on life. He always had a smile on his face, a good word on his lips and he loved a good laugh. He was passionate about jazz music especially Frank Sinatra who he called his “personal Prozac” and loved nothing better than hosting his Jet Set Jazz show every Saturday evening on WQFS in Greensboro. I would tune in when I could and was the recipient of many shout outs from Sergio. He was in his element when he was behind the mic. Sergio also loved old movies from the 60s and 70s as well as professional wrestling and a good cigar. Sergio was a stalwart member of the security division in the Wake Forest University Police Department and in addition to working the gates and night watch, he was a long time member of the department’s Rape Aggression Defense program. He was always well thought of both within the campus police and around campus. He trained many new security officers over the years and was always good at it. The new security officers always looked up to him. He won the department’s security officer of the year award several times. He was always a great friend to me and always someone that I could trust fully. Sergio lived his life according to the maxim “vivere la vita al massimo…live life to the fullest.” We should all strive to follow his example. Night shift will never be the same without him and I feel we will never see his like again. God speed old friend!
Mark W. Young
Walnut Cove, N.C.
Such a wonderful and polite well respectful security guard.. you will be missed
Great smile, super friendly. You truly cared for everyone and always went above and beyond to greet people. Now that you’re gone, the lights have dimmed, yet it shouldn’t come as a surprise that contagious energy endures. Going to be missed Rest well, my friend.
I met Sergio in 2006 when he came to work at Wake Forest University. He was a wonderful person to work with and delightful to talk to. He always made me laugh with his funny comments. Sergio loved the people at WFU and he never let a coworker down. I will miss Sergio greatly as a friend, a former coworker, and a genuine person who cared for others. He was never pretentious, he called it as he saw it, and you could trust him with anything you said to him. I was priviledged to have known someone as wonderful as Sergio. Rest in peace sweet friend!
Sergio was a true friend and co worker.He was an excellent R.A.D. Instructor. I could always depend on him. He will be surely missed. Rest in peace my friend
I also knew Sergio from working with him at Wake Forest- I had been here several years before he came. We hit it off immediately and found common ground in music, our love of our jobs and life in general. He made an impact on every single person he met and it was never a bad thing! His smile, his sense of humor and his ability to make people gravitate toward him was remarkable!
My son, who also worked on campus, happened to see Sergio at the mall and recognized him. I remember Jacob asking me, “Who is that guy who works with you at the Police Department that looks kind of like Sylvester Stallone? He has huge muscles! I see him flying around the mall with a cigar and a leather duster flapping in the wind!” I laughed and said, “Oh that must be Sergio!” He introduced himself to Sergio and from that point on, they connected every time they ran into one another.
I believe my fondest memory of Sergio ( I can’t think about it without giggling) was when he first started here. I found it interesting that he had an “I ❤ Condoleezza Rice” sticker on the bumper of his car. I assumed it was a political expression. I asked him if he liked Condoleezza Rice and he actually blushed a bit and said, “Shoot Yeah! She is gorgeous!” I laughed because the sticker was not the least bit political…it was his crush!! 🙂
Ward family, I can just imagine the family dinners with Sergio and what a unique flavor he always sprinkled on top! What fun it must have been! He spoke highly of his family, nieces and nephews so I am confident he will always be there in spirit to watch over you.
Rest in Peace Good Man. Your zest for life will live on through those you have selflessly touched in some way- physically, spiritually or mentally. God Bless.
Sergio was a wonderful human being and I am shocked to learn of his passing. At Wake Forest we often know one another because we work here, even when we do not work together, but his radiant smile was always shining on his face when he was trying to be helpful, in many different ways. When I could not find my card at night entering campus, he would look at me and wave, opening the gate, saying something cheerful. I will always remember him as a kind, warm, and generous individual. I love this picture of him, especially with his Italian t-shirt. Will keep Sergio’s warm smile imprinted vividly in my memory. A warm smile is the best thing you can share with those who cross your path at work. It does not cost anything. He was always ready to show others hw was happy to see them. Requiescat in pacem.
Sergio was a wonderful human being and I am shocked to learn of his passing. At Wake Forest we often know one another because we work here, even when we do not work together, but his radiant smile was always shining on his face when he was trying to be helpful, in many different ways. When I could not find my ID card at night entering campus, he would look at me and wave, opening the gate, saying something cheerful. I will always remember him as a kind, warm, and generous individual. I love this picture of him, especially with his Italian t-shirt. Will keep Sergio’s warm smile imprinted vividly in my memory. A warm smile is the best thing you can share with those who cross your path at work. It does not cost anything. He was always ready to show others he was happy to see them. Requiescat in pace.