Family and friends will gather to celebrate the life of Ruth Naomi Ford, affectionately known as “Mother Ruth,” of Estate Two Williams, who passed away on Saturday, Dec. 11.
“Mother Ruth.” born on Dec. 8, 1935, to Ida Jarvis in Bolans, Antigua, BWI, was the eldest of seven children. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Ford Sr.; daughter, Nola Ford; and son, Answorth Simmonds.
Left to commemorate her life are her daughters: Olivette Simmonds, Denise and Joleen Ford; her son, Vernon (Birgit) Ford Jr.; and grandchildren: Sheila (Renard) Warren, Dean (Carolyn) Simmonds, Sharae (Gene) Grant, Jerome (Stacy) Simmonds, Rebecca (Nicholas) Stewart, Jelani and Nevajo Ford;
and great-grandchildren: Gabrielle and Elijah Simmonds, Timothy Stewart, Shiloh and Abigail Francis, and Gabrielle Cevis.
She is also survived by her brother, Charles Wiltshire; nieces: Jacquelyn Williams, Marcella Davis, Joycelyn Smith, Keisha Cudjoe, Anfrenette and Adella Joseph, and Akesha Wiltshire Hunte; and nephews: Eugene, Alistair and Malcolm Martin, Keith Cornelius, Nigel (Steve), Austin II, Kessoon and Tyrone Davis, Kevin Batt and Auden Joseph.
Other survivors include special friends: Margaret Rose Southwell, Petronella Batt, Ronis Hector, Clarissa Messer-Petersen, Eva Davis Batt, Cartwright Benjamin and family, Evadney Christopher, members of Faith Seventh-day Adventist Church, members of Casalita Seventh-day Adventist Church (Texas), and seniors and staff at the Garland Senior Activity Center (Texas); as well as other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
The celebration of life service for “Mother Ruth” will take place on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, at Faith Seventh-day Adventist Church, 37AB Estate Two Brothers, Frederiksted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Viewing will be held at 10 a.m. followed by the service at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be directly after at Kingshill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Mother Ruth requested that donations be made to the Faith Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Women’s Ministry, Men’s Ministry and Prison Ministry.
Due to COVID, all attendees are kindly asked to wear a mask. There will not be a repast.