Obituary of MSG Lawrence Alexander Ford, U.S. Army,

Lawrence Alexander Ford "Mr. Ford" was the youngest of seven children of the union of Tom Ford and Frances Rebecca Grimkey Ford. He was born January 1, 1928 in the Bowman Lane community of rural Colleton County, Walterboro, South Carolina. He died Thursday, October 8, 2020 at his home surrounded by his loving family in Colorado Springs, Colorado.Mr. Ford attended Ward Cross School for first and second grades at Ritter School from third through eighth grade (both in rural Colleton County, South Carolina). He attended high school at the old Colleton Training School (CTS) in Walterboro, South Carolina. Mr. Ford and rode his bicycle fifteen miles round trip to CTS every day because the county did not provide school bus transportation for Black students.In 1946, Mr. Ford left high school to serve in the U.S. Army. After serving three years from March 1946 to March 1949 he left the Army, joined the inactive reserves, and finished high school at CTS. He was called up for active duty when the Korean Conflict broke out. When the Korean Conflict ended, Mr. Ford left the Army again; re-joined in 1952 and served until his retirement twenty-five years and eleven days later. He attained the rank of Master Sergeant. In the Army, Mr. Ford's most important jobs were heavy equipment operator, unit supply sergeant, and intelligence analyst. Some of his other Army duties included basic training instructor and training, information, and education (TI&E). During his military career, Mr. Ford received the following honors and distinctions: World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal (w/ four clasps), Joint Command Commendation Medal (w/ one clasp), and Vietnam Campaign Ribbon. When asked if he was ever scared while serving in Vietnam, Mr. Ford said once in Saigon he was so scared he forgot his name. His favorite duty station was Fort Meade, Maryland because it was half-way between Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland.Mr. Ford married Bonnie Magwood of White Hall, South Carolina in 1952. Bonnie accompanied him on most of his tours of duty to include tours in Germany, Panama, and many duty stations. Their last tour was Ft. Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He retired from the Army in 1978, bought a house, and he and his family established permanent residency in Colorado Springs. After retiring Mr. Ford became a businessman; he began buying, renovating, and renting houses. He eventually owned numerous rental units. In 1998 Mr. Ford invited family and friends to Colorado Springs to witness the mortgage burning for his home and rental properties. Mr. Ford often said that coming from "a one-mule dirt farm" he thought he had done pretty good for himself. A proud member of Pikes Peak Region Lodge #473 since 1982, he held positions of: Chairman of the Trustees, Chaplain, Monetary Booster for Education Department, Youth Department, Beauty and Talent Department and Special People Department. As well as many others, he often donated toys, food and supplies anonymously.Before Mr. Ford was a soldier or a businessman, he was a farmer. Life as a farmer began at about age 16 when he was the only male left at home after his father's death and his brothers, Harmon and John, were drafted to serve in World War II. Although he was still a boy, Mr. Ford had to learn how to plow. He also had to help with planting and harvesting the crops. As his sister Nettie reflected, "We had the mule so Mama said the three of us would have to do the farming. Otherwise, we wouldn't eat. There was no money, so we did it." Mr. Ford never forgot his roots as a farmer. Every spring he planted a large vegetable garden in the backyard of his Colorado Springs home. He loved clothes and had a photo album filled with pictures of himself in his favorite suits. He also loved Lincoln cars, reading Western and Spy novels, fishing and traveling. His travels included trips to Kansas City, Kansas; Kansas City, Missouri; New York, New York; Kingston, New York; Trevo, New Jersey; Detroit, Minnesota; Seaside, California; Los Angeles, California; Troy, Alabama; Allentown, Pennsylvania; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Las Vegas, Nevada and Atlanta, Georgia to visit his daughter, Crystal, and grandchildren. Taking his grandchildren Danny and Cassandra to Disney was a highlight of his vast travels. Over the years he also joined his sister Orabelle and his niece Dr. Ernestine J. Carter at conferences in Chicago, Illinois; Dallas, Texas; and Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Ford settled in Colorado, but often visited family in Walterboro, South Carolina and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Christmas or Thanksgiving. He always attended his CTS class reunions as well as Ford Family reunions. In 2003 he hosted the Ford Family reunion at his home and other venues in Colorado Springs.Mr. Ford joined St. Paul C.M.E. Church in Walterboro, South Carolina at an early age. As a member of Peoples United Methodist Church (Colorado Springs, Colorado) since 1971, he was an usher and served as president of the Usher Board, chairperson of the Trustee Board, and chair of the Administrative Council (for fifteen years). Mr. Ford was a devoted, generous, and a loving son to his mother who made several trips from South Carolina to visit him in Colorado Springs. He will always be remembered for his generosity to family and friends. He was preceded in death by Bonnie Magwood Ford, his loving wife of twenty-seven years, June 1978; son, Danny Ford of Colorado Springs, Colorado, January 2014; and daughter, Janice "Penny" Summers of Walterboro, South Carolina, August 2019. Mr. Ford will be greatly missed by his surviving daughter, Crystal Ford Grant Ballard; two granddaughters, Deia Nicole Grant and Cassandra Ford; two grandsons, Edwin Alexander Grant and Dannie Ford; three great-granddaughters, Bonnie Evelyn "BJ" Turner, Sarah Rose Beaemon-Grant and Malaiyah Bryant; one great-grandson, Kahlil Lallis; and two great-great-grandson twins, Bralyn and Brendyn Turner, all of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Other survivors include a sister-in-law, Gloria Magwood Peaks of White Hall, South Carolina; twenty nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends. Visitation, 4:00-7:00PM, Thursday, October 15, 2020, The Springs Funeral Services, 3115 East Platte Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Attendees will be capped at 75 and masks/facial coverings are required.Funeral Service, 9:00AM, Friday, October 16, 2020, The Springs Funeral Services, 3115 East Platte Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Attendees will be capped at 75 and masks/facial coverings are required. The service will be streamed live, the link to watch Mr. Ford's Funeral is located on his Tribute Wall on The Springs Funeral Services website.Graveside Service, 11:00AM, Friday, October 16, 2020, Pikes Peak National Cemetery, 10545 Drennan Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80925. Events Visitation Thursday, October 15, 2020 4:00PM - 7:00PM The Springs Funeral Services 3115 East Platte Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Phone: 719-207-8855 Funeral Service Friday, October 16, 2020 9:00AM The Springs Funeral Services 3115 East Platte Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Phone: 719-207-8855 Graveside Friday, October 16, 2020 11:00AM Pikes Peak National Cemetery 10545 Drennan Road Colorado Springs, CO 80925 Phone: 202-632-8035 Final Resting Place Pikes Peak National Cemetery 10545 Drennan Road Colorado Springs, CO 80925