Willie J. Ford 1926-2012

FORD JOHNSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/7/2012 at 11:45:22

Sioux City Journal
April 19, 2012

Willie J. Ford, 85, of Sioux City died Friday, April 13, 2012, at Westwood Nursing and Rehab Center.

Services will be 1 p.m. Friday at Mount Zion Baptist Church, with the Rev. Willie Ray officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 3:30 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 6:45 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.

Willie was born on Sept. 14, 1926, in Lisnian, Ala., to Hillard and Jeannie Ford. He attended school in Yanley, Ala. He served in the U.S. Army.

Willie was married to Jessie P. Johnson on July 8, 1945, in Merridian, Miss. She passed away on June 8, 1996, in Sioux City. He worked in construction for Booth and Olson, then later he worked for 30 years at IBP as a lead man on the production line.

Willie was the pastor at the Tabernacle Church of God and Christ for 40-plus years. One of his favorite quotes from the Bible was "The Bible says, I command that you love one another, and I say if you don't love me, you better not die." Pastor Ford was a preacher of love.

Willie enjoyed reading his Bible, spending time with family and friends, good conversation with those around him, and he loved his Lord and Savior.

Survivors include his children, Bessie Douglas of Sacramento, Calif., Harvey Ford of Red Banks, Miss., Carolyn Ford of Sioux City, Glenn Ford of Lincoln, Neb., and Darlene Phillips of Antichoch, Calif.; 18 grandchildren; his great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Chief Apostle Fred Ford of Lisman, Ala., and Bishop Elem Ford of Sioux City.

He was preceded in death by his wife; a son, Jesse Ford; a daughter, Dessie Redman; his parents; and a brother, Wardell Ford.