Judy Annette Ford

In lieu of flowers, please honor the life of Judy A. Ford by making a donation to American Brain Foundation: www.americanbrainfoundation.org Celebration of Life Services for Judy A. Ford will be held on Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 2:00PM. These services will be recorded and streamed live. In the event the service is interrupted at any time due to technical issues, the entire service will be uploaded and available to view later in the day. Please copy and paste the link to share, or simply click on the link to view the service. https://vimeo.com/582211011 Judy Annette Ford (nee West) was born on December 12, 1937 to Cecelia Wheatley Briggs and William Waters West in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York. Judy received her education from local NYC schools including Resurrection Catholic School and Harriet Beecher Stowe PS 136. She continually pursued opportunities to excel by completing courses such as IBM Key Punch training at the Institute of Data Processing (oh how those fingers would fly) and countless Airline industry training courses. She was a generous spirit, smart – and eager to share her knowledge. Her family and friends were often the recipients of an extravagant purchase and her pearls of wisdom. Judy married Elmer Roberts, Sr. in 1958 and from that union, Elmer Jr., Tammy and Michael Roberts were born. After a difficult period in her life, Judy found love again and married William Ford in 1964. This union was blessed with a baby girl, Sandra Ford. Judy comes from a large family of 6 sisters; Kathleen, Linda, Virginia, June, Inez and Renee and 2 brothers David and Walter. Her mother Cecelia, father William, and grandmother Eva were pivotal in her life and coupled with the love and support of her siblings; Judy always landed on a soft cushion and retained her Joie de Vivre, her Joy of Living. Judy was employed for a time at Precise Imports of NY before being hired for well over 30 years, by American Airlines in 1967. American Airlines lowered their proverbial jet-bridge for Judy and literally opened the cabin door (1st Class was her preference) to endless travel adventures. Judy was brave and bodacious; and a trip to Detroit for a turn in the hairdresser chair or a solo jaunt to the Bahamas for the latest scent was par for the course, “…and throw that Movado in the bag while you’re at it”, she’d say before heading back to the airport. Over the years Judy relocated with AA from Detroit, to Cincinnati, to LA, and finally to Tucson. While in Tucson, she suffered a catastrophic car accident that would stop most of us in our tracks; but not Judy, not our warrior mom, sister, daughter, friend. She was fiercely independent and after several surgeries where rods, pins and screws helped put Judy back together again, her wit and humor soon followed. Judy was now determined to make a monumental decision; where to go next! Judy settled herself in her wheelchair with the latest in haute couture, matching hardware rods to support her back and a fashionable back brace for extra support. She donned her baseball cap, placed her casted leg in the wheelchair support and declared her next stop was Las Vegas! Where else would a Diva that eats french-fries and pizza with a fork and knife be but among the rich and famous, high-end stores and designer fashions and handbags, of course! Wheelchair and back brace; no problem. We family helplessly stood by and wrung our hands, “…that’s Judy for you!” Fortunately, Judy’s long-time boyfriend, Larry Brown, relocated to Vegas and life went on. Judy loved the night lights of Vegas and retired from American Airlines there in 1998. Her years in Las Vegas were punctuated with frequent visits by family and friends where Judy would share the highlights of the latest Cirque du Soleil show or a headline concert show and then treat visitors to breakfast at the Bellagio or dinner at Wolfgang’s, why not! Judy loved Vegas, and Vegas locals loved her and her ready smile and cheerful greeting. Judy ultimately left her beloved Las Vegas and relocated to Atlanta where her daughter Sandi and her sister Renee kept vigil at her bedside. Family and friends filled in the gaps in her day thru telephone calls, cards, and Skype sessions. Judy Annette Ford transitioned peacefully on July 26, 2021. Judy is preceded in death by her mother Cecelia Paulie (nee Briggs); father William West; brother David Briggs, Jr; and her sister Inez Powell. She is survived by siblings Kathleen Williams, Linda Hannah, Virginia Moore (Bill), June Davis, Renee Ford Clark (Curtis) and Walter Ford (Elaina); children Elmer Roberts Jr, Tammy Ford (Toni), Michael Roberts (Jackie) and Sandra Ford; and grandchildren Ellyssia Rene, Connor Roberts, Aurora and Aeven Evanoff-Roberts, David (Sarah), Robert (Dmitiry) and Tiffany Ford; Jadrien and Jordyn Roberts, Jennica Isham (Steve), Russell Yows (Vanessa), Cabrina Illies (Asher), Michael Illies and Nicholas Ford; and great-grandson David Luke Ford. Countless nieces, nephews and friends also mourn her loss.

Judy Annette Ford

December 12, 1937 - July 26, 2021