The home going of Mrs. Mildred Strahan “Babe” Ard, born Jan. 13, 1926, took place Friday, Feb. 13, 2015, at Our Lady of the Angels Hospital. She was 89 years old and spent her life being a blessing to all those that knew her. She was a wonderful daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend.

Her special calling was to be a nurse, and after graduating from Enon High School she entered Elizabeth Sullivan Memorial Nursing School and became a registered nurse in 1946.

She married her sweetheart, Ralph Steven Ard, on Jan. 3, 1947. They were happily married for 56 years until the Lord called him home on July 13, 2003. She is now reunited with her father and mother, Acy and Edith Moore Strahan; husband, Ralph Steven Ard; daughter, Patricia Ann Painter; grandson, Jeremy Chad Martin; brother, Levert Strahan; and a host of friends.

She leaves behind her daughter and son-in-law, Connie and Pastor Lynn Martin; her son and daughter-in-law, Kenny and Emma Ard; a special nephew and niece, Stanley and Sharon Strahan; eight grandchildren, Lisa (Dennis) Dykes, Steve (Holly) Barber, Pastor Acy (Sheree) Barber, Bridget Knight, Shanda (Tim) Slocum, Jennifer (Alberto) de la Garza, Ryan (Jonna) Ard and Pastor Caleb (Toni) Martin; 15 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; special nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law, Crissy Reynolds, Vanda Cauley and Gladys Ard; brother-in-law, James F. (Glenda) Owens; her Oak Grove Church family; and a host of other family and friends.

Visitation was held Saturday Feb. 14, 2015, at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. and will continue Sunday at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church from noon until the funeral service at 2 p.m. Pastor Derrick Dantin, Pastor Lynn Martin, Pastor Caleb Martin and Pastor Acy Barber will officiate the service, and interment will follow at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery.