Dessie Ree Ford

Missionary Dessie Ree Ford, age 76 of Gatesville, went to be with her Heavenly Father on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019 at First Baptist Church.  Burial will follow at Restland Cemetery.  Visitation with the family will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Scott’s Funeral Home.

Missionary Ford was born November 16, 1942 in Bonita, Louisiana to the late J.C. and Ophelia Jones-Britton. She accepted Christ at an early age. She attended St. Paul’s Church of God in Christ in Bonita, Louisiana, accepting Christ in 1961. In December of 1961, she moved to Gatesville, Texas and joined Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ and served in many different capacities. She married the love of her life, Lee O. Ford, Sr. on June 21, 1959. To this union was born nine children.  She became a Missionary in 1986 becoming the District Missionary, under the late Supt. D. Johnson in 1990 until her health began to fail. She remained a Missionary until her death.

She attended Union High School in Mer Rouge, La. She attended TSTI obtaining a degree in restaurant management. Missionary Ford worked in various jobs. She worked for TYC in food service, Waco Center for Youth, TDCJ home-health aid and she kept many kids in her home. She was affectionately called MeMaw and Momma Dessa by many of the children she helped to raise. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Minnie Britton, C.C. Britton, Willie Britton; and a grandson, Dominique Moore.

Missionary Ford leaves to cherish her loving husband of 60 years, Elder L. O. Ford, Sr.; sons, Carl Ford and wife, Cynthia, Lee  Ford, Jr. and wife, Gerri, Lorenzo Ford and wife, Valencia, Ronald Ford, Donald Ford, Calvin Ford, Kent Ford and wife, Tremaine; daughters, Lillian Ford, Cassandra Ward and husband, Archie, adopted daughter in love, Doris Prather; sisters, Helen Bell, Azzie Miller; brother, Arthur Britton and wife, Ora; sixteen grandchildren; numerous great grandchildren; many grandchildren in love; three special nieces, Marilyn McHenry, Phemonia Miller-White and husband, Danny, Alphelia Martin; special nephews, Lonnie Adams and wife, Sandra, Roy Lee Ford and wife, Dot, Thallas Miller, Jr. and wife, Debra, Ronnie Miller; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorials be made to the Dessie Ree Ford Scholarship Fund at Mt. Calvary Church of God in Christ, 514 N. 13^th Street, Gatesville, TX 76528.