Statement from Legal Aid of North Carolina on the Passing of Janet Ward Black
Legal Aid of North Carolina mourns the loss of our beloved former Board Vice Chair, mentor, and friend, Janet Ward Black, one of the most extraordinary champions of access to justice our state has ever known. Her passing leaves a profound void in our organization, our profession, and the communities she served with such grace, humility, and conviction.
Janet Ward’s life was a masterclass in servant leadership. She led with courage, compassion, and unwavering faith, always guided by the belief that justice is both a legal principle and a sacred calling. Her work was rooted in her faith’s call to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves and defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8–9). Through her leadership, she lived that charge every day.
As a member of our Board, Janet Ward brought not only her formidable intellect and experience but also her deep generosity of spirit. Her life’s mission was to make sure that every North Carolinian, regardless of circumstance, could stand equal before the law.
Her influence extended far beyond any single institution. As a past president of both the North Carolina Bar Association and the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, she changed the culture of our profession, creating the NCBA’s 4ALL program, which has helped hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians receive free legal help.
Janet Ward’s faith was not quiet. It was active, visible, and deeply generous. Under her leadership, Ward Black Law tithed ten percent of its gross revenue each year to nonprofit organizations across North Carolina and beyond, a rare and extraordinary testament to her belief that blessings are meant to be shared.
To our staff, Janet Ward was a trusted friend and mentor. To the clients we serve, she was an advocate they might never meet but whose vision and generosity ensured they had a voice. To our board and the broader legal community, she was a north star, a reminder that integrity and kindness are the truest measures of professionalism and leadership.
We will continue her work in her spirit, seeking justice, giving generously, and caring for our neighbors, just as she taught us. Her light will remain in the halls of our offices, in the hearts of those she inspired, and in every North Carolinian whose life is fairer, freer, and more hopeful because she walked among us.
May her memory be a blessing, and may we honor her legacy through our continued commitment to ensuring justice for all North Carolinians.