Obituaries: Sherman Ford, 2001, Winn Parish, LA Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** From: 1) November 17, 2001 Alexandria Town Talk 2) Funeral Program No. 1 Sherman Ford Winnfield- Services for Sherman Ford will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Winnfield Primary School Auditorium, Winnfield, with the Rev. James Leonard officiating. Burial will be in Winnfield Cemetery, Winnfield, under direction of Winnfield Funeral Home, Winnfield. Ford, 68, of Winnfield died Tuesday, November 13, 2001, in Winn Parish Medical Center, Winnfield. He was a Sunday School superintendent and deacon at the Mt. Olive Baptist Church. He was a retired sheriff's deputy and detective for the Winn Parish Sheriff's Office. Survivors include his wife, Valenteen Ford of Winnfield, one son, Corey Harrell of Lafayette; three daughters, Barbara Jewitt of Winnfield, Francis Jones of Sugarland, Texas, and Tammye Keegan of Phoenix, Ariz.; mother, Leona Thompson of Victorville, Calif.; one brother, Walter Abram of Winnfield; two sisters, Ruthie Waller of Victorville, Calif., and Francis Burell of Chicago; and seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. No. 2 Homegoing Celebration of Brother Sherman Ford Sunrise: March 14, 1933 Sunset: November 13, 2001 Monday, November 19, 2001 11 a.m. Winnfield Primary School Auditorium Winnfield, LA Reverend James Leonard officiating Brother Sherman Ford was born March 14, 1933 in Rosefield, LaSalle Parish, LA to Leona Thompson and Wesley Thompson, Sr. He departed this life Tuesday, November 13, 2001, at the Winn Parish Medical Center in Winnfield, LA. Brother Ford accepted Christ at an early age. He united with the Mount Olive Baptist Church and remained a faithful member until his death. He served as Sunday School Teacher, Superintendent, and Deacon for many, many years. He married Valenteen Moore in 1951 and to this union three daughters were born. He leaves to cherish his memory: his wife, Valenteen Ford; three daughters, Barbara Jewitt of Winnfield, LA, Francis Jones of Sugarland, TX, Tammye Keegan of Phoenix, AZ; his mother, Leona Thompson; one aunt, Janie Washington; one uncle, Geroy Simmons, all of Victorville, CA; one great aunt, Katherine Fegans of Winnfield, LA; one brother, Walter Abrams (Doris) of Winnfield, LA; two sisters, Ruthie Waller of Victorville, CA, and Francis Burell of Chicago, IL; one brother in law, Yvonne Moore (Dice) of Winnfield, LA; one son, Corey Harrell of Lafayette, LA; six grandsons, Dammion Jewitt (Yuri) of Jacksonville, FL, Robert Jones, Jr., and Christopher Jones of Sugarland, TX, Jerry Keegan III of Hollywood, CA, Stephan Macy and JaQuan Henderson of Lafayette, LA; one granddaughter, Jessica Jewitt of Jacksonville, FL; three great grandchildren, Amisha Jewitt of Monroe, LA, Terrell Jones and Treyveonne Murry of Sugarland, TX; one special niece, Gila Abron of Winnfield, LA; one special cousin, Brenda Wells of Winnfield, LA; two Godsons, Cliff D. Hall, Jr. of Houston, TX and B. J. Washington, Jr.; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Eulogistic Expressions: Bro. Etoy Ashley, Bro. Husher Calhoun Words of Inspiration: Rev. Roy B. Williams Scripture: Rev. Daniel "Boone" Harris, Rev. Randy Jewitt Oration: Rev. James Leonard Services in charge of Winnfield Funeral Home, Rev. Tommy Hamms Pallbearers: Sheriff James E. "Buddy" Jordan, Chief Deputy Greggory E. Davies, Deputies Dorman Guilliams, John Wooten, Darrell Winder, Jamey Maxwell, Author Hollingsworth, all of the Winn Parish Sheriff's Office Honorary Pallbearers: Walter Abrams, Jr., Jessie Jewitt, Robert Jones, Sr., Jerry Keegan, Jr., Corey Harrell, Antonio Abron, Kendrick Abrams, Dammion Jewitt, Robert Jones, Jr., Christopher Jones, Jerry Keegan III, Stephan Macy, JaQuan Henderson, Antwun Barnes, Anthony Abron, Tyheria Raybon, Yvonne Moore (Personal note: I was honored and privileged to work with Sherman Ford for many years. Sherman and I were partners for many years as detectives with the Winn Parish Sheriff's Office under Sheriff Dan Page, and we again worked together under Sheriff James E. "Buddy" Jordan until Sherman retired with over 20 years service. Sherman was the first African-American deputy sheriff in Winn Parish, the first African-American detective with the Winn Parish Sheriff's Office, a Prince Hall Mason, and a member of the Winn Parish Democratic Executive Committee. Sherman was a loyal, dedicated, faithful servant to his family, his church, his job, and to his fellow man. Most of the time, when Sherman was needed, he could be found at his church. Otherwise, he was "hustling" as he called it, trying to make an extra buck for his family, his friends in need, or some stranger who might drop by and ask for assistance after learning that Sherman was the man to see for help. If Sherman had a fault, it was his being too quick to assist someone who really didn't need it. Sherman was a hustler but he often got hustled. There is not enough room or time to list all the wonderful things Sherman Ford did for friends and foes alike. He was truly a good and decent man. He spent as much time trying to keep people from going getting in trouble and going to jail as he did trying to put them there. By the same token, if Sherman Ford ever got his dander riled, if there was a serious investigation in progress, he would not give up until he brought in the accused. Never did anyone, black or white, come forward with a problem that Sherman did not heed their plight. I suppose if there is one thing in my mind that sticks out about Sherman Ford, it would be the critical role he played in Winn Parish during the 1960s and 1970s. During desegregation of schools, Sherman was a leader and saw to it Winnfield and Winn Parish experienced peace at a time most places were having chaos. He was quick to seek justice for those he represented yet in a peaceful way so that all sides won. Sherman was a negotiator. He was equally as quick to tell those he represented when they were wrong, and how to go about solving their issue in the proper way. He had a way of making people see that they were wrong without having to tell them, another of his God-given talents. Winnfield and Winn Parish has truly lost a favorite son.)