DORIS B. FORD was born December 21, 1933 to the union of Bennie and India Brown in Jackson, TN. Doris started her formal education in Tennessee. In time, her parents relocated to Gary, IN where she attended and graduated from Froebel High School in 1951. Doris later attended Cortez W. Peters Business College in Chicago. While at Froebel, Doris met and fell in love with Lonnie B. Ford, and they later married on October 1, 1954 at Gleason Park Pavilion in Gary, IN. Doris worked for Gary Housing Authority and later worked and retired from The Gary Community School Corporation.
Doris and Lonnie both studied with Jehovah’s Witnesses during their courtship. They dedicated their lives to Jehovah and were baptized September 12, 1955 and started attending the Gary East Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Despite a short hiatus, Doris has attended the Gary East Congregation just shy of 70 years. In the earlier days, she served in capacity of Account servant for the congregation and she played the piano for songs sung during the meetings in the “good old days.” She and her good friend at that time, Freda Washington played alternate weeks. Doris was ecstatic when the Kingdom melodies were released on tape. She was always so nervous when she played. Doris enjoyed her ministry and would enthusiastically reach out to Mark Thurman for her letter writing addresses which she absolutely loved doing. She would go mail her letters and then stop by her favorite KFC to pick up dinner. Sharks and Simply Seafood were her close seconds. She was known to many as one sharp dresser. When her daughters could not locate her, turns out she was out getting her hair and nails done. She said “you always give your best to Jehovah. “
Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Lonnie B. Ford; her parents; Bennie and India Brown; son, Dion L. Ford and daughter, Yvette L. Holder.
Doris fell asleep on Saturday, October 8, 2022 with her family by her side. She leaves to mourn her passing, daughters; LaDonna (David) Jenkins of Park Forest, IL and Veronica (Dwayne) Brooks of Merrillville, IN; 11 grandchildren; Keith. LaShonda, Marc-Anthony, Essence, Zane, Jaylin, Micah, Dionshai, David Jr, Rodney, Dawyn, bonus children; Ricardo and Aaron whom she came to know and love, great-granddaughters; Ashlynn, Cailynn and Savannah, great-grandson; Channing, brother; Bennie Lee Brown and a host of other grandchildren, great-grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, TONS of spiritual children and special friends all too numerous to mention by name, but you each know who you are.
