Sir Knight James Morris Ward was born on August 10, 1930, in Dyersburg, Tennessee. The son of Thomas Henry and Lucile Bell Ward, he obtained his early education in the public schools of Dyersburg, graduating from high school in 1948. He attended the University of Mississippi and later the University Center in Jackson where he completed courses in business administration, mathematics, and engineering. In 1965 and 1966 he completed studies in the fields of mathematics, electronics, and economics at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

Sir Knight Ward was employed in 1955 by the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company (South Central Bell) as a lineman located in Jackson, TN. He worked on this and other jobs of increasing responsibility throughout west Tennessee until he was transferred to the engineering department in Jackson, MS, in 1961. At the time of his retirement in 1991, he was manager of district construction operations in Jackson, Mississippi.

He was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a professional engineering society.

His hobbies were reading, hunting, fishing, and piddlin’ with wood. He enjoyed almost all sports, especially football and baseball. Jim was a member and actively participated in the activities of Bethel Baptist Church where he served as an active deacon.

Masonically, Sir Knight Ward was Raised in Pearl Lodge No. 23, Jackson, Mississippi, on August 25, 1967.

He served as Master in 1971 and then as Secretary. In 1979, he was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mississippi. He was also a past presiding officer of his Chapter, Council and Commandery and served as Secretary/Recorder of those York Rite bodies. He was Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of’R.A.M. of Mississippi, in 1985; Grand Master of the Grand Council of R. & S.M. of Mississippi, in 1986; and Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Mississippi, in 1982. He received the Knight Commander of the Temple and Knight Grand Cross of the Temple from the Grand Encampment.

He was elected Grand Sovereign of the United Grand Imperial Council, Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine in June 1994, and is a past presiding officer of the following: the Grand College of America, Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests, 2000; the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees, 1995-

96; and the Grand College of Rites, 1993. He was a member and past presiding officer of Mississippi Priory No. 36, KYCH and Mississippi York Rite College No. 83. He was a member of Tara Council No. 29, Knight Masons; Mississippi College, SRICF; Royal Order of Scotland; and the Order of the Eastern Star. An active member of the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay, and a recipient of the Honorary Legion of Honor. He was a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Jackson, Mississippi, Southern Jurisdiction, and was invested with the rank and dignity of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour, and Coroneted a 33°, Inspector General Honorary. He served as presiding officer of all four bodies in the Valley of Jackson.

Sir Knight Ward served as Department Commander, Southeastern Department, 1982-85. He was elected Grand Captain General, August 9, 1988, at Lexington, Kentucky. He was elected Grand Generalissimo on August 20, 1991, at Washington, D.C. He was elected Deputy Grand Master on August 16, 1994, at Denver, Colorado. He was elected Grand Master of the Grand Encampment on August 12, 1997, and installed on August 13, 1997, in St. Louis, Missouri. He became a Most Eminent Past Grand Master at the 61 Triennial Conclave in Nashville, Tennessee, in August, 2000.

Sir Knight Ward laid down his sword and entered the Supreme Asylum above on Monday, March 25, 2024.