Dawna "Skye" Ward's Obituary
Skye Ward
Dawna Skye Ward, “Skye,” 66, of Oakland, California, passed away on February 4, 2025. Skye was born December 16, 1958 in Los Angeles, California to Lenzy and Martha Ward.
Skye grew up in L.A. and attended 24th Street Elementary School, Edwin Markham Jr. High, and Susan Miller Dorsey Sr. High School. She went on to receive a B.A. from Cal State Chico University. She also attended the University of California Berkeley.
After moving to Oakland, Skye worked at UC Berkeley for approximately 20 years in various positions, continually being promoted due to her excellent work. As part of her stint at UCB she was the manager of the International Summer Program where she had the opportunity to travel the globe. She established many new exchange programs, including with France, India, South Korea and Germany, as she educated and recruited students for the UCB international program. While at UCB she also co-created the first mini Conference for Women of Color.
Skye joined St. Mary’s College in Moraga in 2014 serving as an administrative assistant in the School of Liberal Arts, supporting both the Kinesiology and Ethnic Studies departments until her passing.
Skye’s impact at St. Mary’s College was deep and system changing. Colleagues from St. Mary describe Skye as providing profound and compassionate leadership to the campus community. She was well-known as an advocate for peace, justice and joy. She worked every day, leading by example, to heal and prevent the wounds caused by racism. Skye created the Black Faculty Staff newsletter to connect and support Black Faculty and Staff. She wrote about celebrations, accomplishments and did not hesitate to speak out about injustice and racism. She also curated and shared a collection of racial justice resources that reside in the school’s library collection. In 2017, Skye received the Staff Distinction Award for Inclusive Excellence & Building SMC community.
A few of Skye’s highlights from her time at SMC were co-creating a workshop, “Healing Hearts with Horses: Inclusive Excellence in Action”, a successful two-term experiential workshop and professional development opportunity for Saint Mary’s College faculty and staff. Skye was also deeply honored by the former Provost at Saint Mary’s invitation to do the invocation at her inauguration at Westminster College in Utah, where she was just elected president of the college.
Skye was a cultural worker, healing arts practitioner, and social justice advocate. As a transnational feminist, Skye offered a transformational workshop, “Conjuring Wellness and Renewal: A Transnational Feminist Approach to Global Travel.” Skye visited more than 30 countries and five continents. Paris was a special place for Skye. She published “Skyeview: A Sistah’s View of the World, Paris Chapter – A Guidebook and Journal,” a travel guide oriented towards the African diaspora. She performed in many spoken word events, including Liquid Fire.
Skye was integral to many social justice and arts organizations, including: Aché (1989 – 1994), Zuna Institute, Sistahs Steppin In Pride, NIA Collective, and National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays, and Zami Nobla.
She was an archivist, historian, photographer, videographer, world traveler, community builder, and a holy woman. Her spiritual practice and energy medicine was an integral part of Skye’s very being.
She consistently endeavored to unite the diverse communities she was a part of, emphasizing social activism, equality, community well-being, and the performing arts.
Skye was also a resilient breast cancer survivor and was the keynote speaker at the Women’s Cancer Resource Center’s “Health Equity in Action “ conference in 2024 at Mill’s College.
Skye is preceded in death by her parents, Lenzy and Martha Ward, sister Marcella Walker, sister Frances Smith and brother, Michael Ward.
Survivors include: Daughter, Heather R. Jones; granddaughter, Sophia Annmarie Brissett; siblings Harlan Ward, Ronald Ward, Donald Ward, Carolyn Ward, and Mary Ward; nieces: Terri Peries, Gabriele Almon, Sharron Ward, Vickie Ward and JoAnn Walker; and nephews Brandon Ward, Don Ward Jr., and Andrew Ward and Zayden Wilson-Hoffman. In addition to Lexi Almon, Lily Almon and Gavin T. Peries, she leaves behind a host of great nieces and nephews.
Skye is also survived by a rich and deep community of friends and colleagues across the globe.
It is hard to put into words the impact that Skye has had on all of us who were blessed to know her. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bay Area Lesbian Archives, Women’s Cancer Resource Center, Zami Nobla or some other similar organization of your choosing.
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