John Calvin Ford, Sr.

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want..." Psalms 23 John Calvin Ford, Sr. (JC, Uncle Pete) was born in Urbana, Arkansas on March 15, 1927 to Earnest and Mary L. Henry Ford. He was the oldest of seven children. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, December 19, 2012. At an early age, he confessed his life to Christ and united with St. James A.M.E. Church in Urbana, Arkansas where he served as a Layman and as Church Secretary. He was a faithful member for over 70 years. He later united with Free Union A.M.E. Church. Mr. Ford graduated from Urbana High School and attended AM&N now known as University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in Math, minor in Social Studies and a minor in English began his teaching career in 1951 in Urbana as a Math Teacher and as Head Basketball Coach. He later became the Principal of Urbana Middle School in 1963. He served as Principal until 1978. Due to desegration, Urbana School Distrit closed and consolidated with the El Dorado School District in 1978. Mr. Ford then transferred to the El Dorado School District where he taught Math at El Dorado High School and Barton Jr. High from 1978 to 1988. He was also a school bus driver from 1978 to 1997. He retired from the Education system as a teacher in 1988 after more than 40 years in the Education System. He retired as a school bus driver in 1997. He was united in marriage to the late Gertharine Youngblood in 1951 and to this union four children were born. One son and three daughters were born to this union. On February 17, 1962 he united in marriage to the late Earline Canady. After her death, he met and married Bernice Rice. He as a member of the Arkansas Education Association National Education Association. He nutured, mentored and inspired countless children during his tenure in the school system. He was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity(Delta Eta chapter where he was a proud member for over 40 years.) Mr. Ford was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Amos Ford, JD Ford, TJ Ford and Earnest Ford; his sisters Zenobia Ford-Barnes and Vertie M. Ford-Norman. Mr. Ford is survived by his wife, Bernice Rice-Ford, son John C. Ford, Jr. and his wife Judy of San Francisco, Joann Willis(Floyd), Linda Dawkins, Marilyn Winright(Kenneth) all of El Dorado and Shawanna Ford-Lumsey of Washington, D.C.; Brothers, Billy J. Ford of Detroit, Michigan and Milton Ford; sisters, Florine George(JD) and Gerterine Kendrix all of El Dorado, Arkansas; ten grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. A Homegoing Celebration for Mr. Ford will be held on Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Missionary Baptist Church,1018 East Wilson, El Dorado, Arkansas with Rev. John C. Ford, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in the St. James Cemetery, Urbana, Arkansas under the direction of the Sims Mortuary Staff. Visitation at the funeral home will be Friday, December 28, 2012 from 9:00a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A family hour from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The Family Hour to continue at 6p.m. at Free Union AME Church, 3349 Strong Hwy, El Dorado, AR. No visitation at the funeral home on Saturday. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Calvin Ford, Sr., please visit our flower store.