Wayne Ard

Dennis Wayne Ard, age 62, of Mineral Bluff, passed away at his home Wednesday, February 23, 2022, after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born January 17, 1960, to James E. Ard and Sarah I. Ard in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  He lived in Tennessee until the age of four when the family moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Texas where he grew up and lived prior to moving to Georgia in 2012.

Wayne graduated from high school at Dallas Christian School in Mesquite, Texas, in 1977 and then graduated from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, in 1982 with a baccalaureate degree in business administration. He worked for Ard/Knox Insurance until his retirement in 2019.  He married Linda Darnell “Nell” Ard in 1997. He was a member of the Murphy Church of Christ, of Murphy, North Carolina.

Wayne had a passion for helping others. He went nine times to Lithuania on mission trips soon after its liberation from Russia. He had an avid prison ministry and at one time was writing and/or visiting 30 different individuals. His goal in life during his battle with cancer was to make sure that each time someone came to see him that they left having laughed and with a smile on their face. His service to others also extended to the church where he loved to lead singing, teach classes and provide thought-provoking messages. Even as his health declined, he helped others select songs to lead at church to send a message to those participating. When he was not helping others, Wayne loved to cook, grill, smoke brisket and ribs as well as making hand-cranked ice cream.

He is survived by his wife, Nell, of Mineral Bluff; and his parents, James and Sarah Ard, of Blue Ridge. He was preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth Paul Ard.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be Saturday, March 5, 2022, at the Blue Ridge Church of Christ at 11 a.m. located at 222 Harris Drive in Blue Ridge.

The service will also be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/Blue-Ridge-church-of-Christ-Blue-Ridge-GA-183078361186/.   

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wayne and Kenneth Ard Memorial Scholarship Fund at Harding University, 915 Market Street, Searcy, Arkansas, 72149-5615.

Akins-Cobb Funerals & Cremations, of Blue Ridge, was in charge of the arrangements.