Melissa A. Dean Ward, 35, of West Portsmouth, Ohio, passed away Monday, February 23, 2026, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. She was born April 7, 1990, to the late Beverly Ward.
Melissa was a 2009 graduate of Portsmouth West High School. She was a beautiful person, both inside and out, known for her kind heart, gentle spirit, and artistic soul. She loved to paint and draw and further pursued her passion by attending Job Corps in Cleveland, where she studied Sign and Design. She also had a deep love for music and enjoyed going to concerts whenever she could, embracing those moments fully. Melissa was a true free spirit who loved life and lived it on her own terms, finding joy in the experiences and people around her. She was the definition of a caregiver, she loved deeply and selflessly, always making sure those around her were cared for and had what they needed. Her love extended far beyond her immediate family, as she formed deep, meaningful bonds with her friends, treating them as family. She had a special way of making everyone feel seen, valued, and loved, and she embraced the children in their lives as her own, creating lasting connections and memories that will never be forgotten. Her love for her family was unmatched, especially for her nieces and the many children she lovingly claimed as her own.
She is survived by her sister, Ramona (Aaron Strickland) Ward; her nieces, Rylee Ward, Delaynee Ward, and Aynslee Strickland, whom she helped raise; her grandmother, Ramona Jarrell; an aunt, uncles, and cousins; and countless friends and their children, all of whom she loved as her own.
A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Roger W. Davis Funeral Home in West Portsmouth, with friends gathering beginning at 1:00 p.m.