Mattie Ward was born in Dime Box, Lee County, Texas on 14 October 1890, to parents Ira and Georgiana Basey. She attended public grade school in Giddings, Lee County, and later worked in nursing services at McCloskey Veterans’ Hospital. She also worked as a Sunday school teacher, and was an evangelical missionary.
In 1932, she married Nathanial A. Ward, and the couple moved together to Temple, Lee County, Texas, where they had two daughters.
Mattie Ward passed away in Temple, Lee County, Texas, United States, on 13 May 2002, aged 111. She was survived by one daughter, and four grandchildren.
Her age was verified by Anri Kusaku, Ilias Leivaditis, and Jimmy Lindberg, and was validated by LongeviQuest on 19 March 2024.
* Killeen Daily Herald, 17 May 2002