GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A father of four is mourning the loss of his wife after she passed away two weeks ago, just days after delivering twins.
Cory Ward says his wife, Joslyn, was his best friend. She had a lifelong vision that would help parents with affordable childcare.
Joslyn’s vision of opening FLOWER Learning Center to 100 kids was a dream she had since she was a child. Her husband says her dream will become a reality.
“She would never get worried down. If she was worried, she would get back up,” Joslyn’s son, Joshua Ward, said. "She has a dream that this is going to be an amazing daycare center and we're going to try to carry her legacy for that.”
Joshua, 8, describes his mother as strong, relentless and brave.
Joslyn Ward, who was 38, dreamed since middle school of opening her own daycare center, which she started at her home. She earned a master’s in business administration and in November of 2023, her dream had been realized. She secured a lease along with permits to open FLOWER Learning Center in Wyoming.
On March 7, 2024, at 12:44 p.m., Joslyn welcomed her twins, Elisha and Naomi. Seven days later, Joslyn suddenly passed away in her sleep. Her husband Cory is still processing the loss.
“When I think of Joslyn, the first thing that comes to mind is just love, love always needs a target,” Ward said. "It seemed like her life's mission was to help people regardless of their conditions, regardless of if they agreed or not, she felt she was obligated to love on people and to help them in any capacity that she could.”
Ward was a big influence in the community. She was involved in many non-profit organizations dedicated to helping children, including MomsBloom, Inc., First Steps Kent, Rockstar Woman Movement and Family Futures. Ward was a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology with a emphasis in special education. One of the first families she cared for remembered her as accommodating, loving and willing to go above and beyond for anyone.
“A lot of the things that people are saying around her as a nurturing mother, we experienced it firsthand because when we’d have birthday parties, our kids would go running and hugging Joclyn,” Jahaun McKinley said.
Joslyn already received a $150,000 IFF grant and Cory is waiting to hear back about another grant she applied for. He’s carrying Joslyn’s vision with him and his four children as they learn to live with her absence.
Her son, David Ward, describes his mother as his hero.
“She was a great woman and she was strong and courageous. She was never let down,” David said.
“I love that she would take us to the movies that just came out and we can just sit there and watch it together even when we're at home and she’d want us to explore the world. She loved us,” Joshua said.
Cory is excited to bring the learning center together, and with each step he takes to carry out Joslyn’s big dream, he’ll remember her as his best friend, particularly through their kids.
“When I see them, especially during this time, I definitely see pieces of their mother as they push through their feelings and we all have our moments,” Cory said. "Like I told them, we're going to have them together as a family and we're not going to suppress anything, we're not going to ignore anything, we're going to feel everything, but we're going to feel them together.”
To help alleviate the financial burden, a fund has been set up for the family. You can donate to them here.
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