Ms. Lucille Ford

LUCILLE PAYNE FORD was born on April 4th, 1937 in Aberdeen, Mississippi to Sarah Payne and Roy Ford. Her grandparents - Ben and Sarah Ford, raised her with warmth and affection throughout her childhood. Her childhood was rooted in family and faith before she moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After moving north, she was educated in the Milwaukee Public School system, attending 12th Street School and Lincoln High School. Lucille gave her life to Christ at an early age, attending Antioch Baptist Church with her grandmother, Sarah. Later in life, she became a faithful follower in the Lord, living out her devotion with grace and steadfastness at Christian Faith Fellowship, Greater New Birth and finally Kingdom Living Church under her Pastor George Lasley III. While in High School, Lucille formed a life-long friendship with Betty Gillespie and Husband Arthur of Speed Queen Barbeque Restaurant. Going on to work there for 47 years, she retired in 2011. Known for her bubbly personality and smile, she was more than an employee - she was a friend and became family. Lucille's greatest role was being a single mother of nine. Instilling in them resilience, love and faith. Her strength and dedication were unmatched, and this legacy will live on through her children, grandchildren, great grands and great - great grandchild. In her spare time, Lucille was a hustler; she could be found at Potawatomi, the Kenosha Racetrack, shooting dice or playing cards. In her younger years, she was an excellent cook, and in recent years, she started sewing classes with her group at Sycamore apartments. She loved Cadillac cars, and always went shopping at major retail stores. Name brand clothes and purses were nothing to her, "If you like something, get if' was one of her mottos. If you wanted to know any news or gossip in the family, she would have it. Lucille will be remembered for her unwavering faith, warm spirit and making you laugh with an old story, joke or "shaking her tail feather". Lucille was preceded in death by her father, Roy Ford; mother, Sarah Payne; grandparents, Ben and Sarah Ford; children, James and Orlando Ford; brothers, Jerry Ford and Roy Ford Jr.; cousin, Elizabeth Jean Dean; grand uncles, Ben Jr., Roy, Henry, Guy and Willie "Ike" Ford and aunt, Letha Ford Kennedy. Lucille leaves to cherish her legacy of love and laughter - her beloved children: Tallendra Carson, Terry Ford, Michele (Eddie) Ford, Marie Ford, Bryant Ford, Cheryl (Robert) Lester and Debra (Calvin) WIlkerson all of Milwaukee, WI; sisters: Sara Smith and Joyce Ford with brothers: Henry Ford, Steve Ford, Frank Ford, Joe Ford and Ralph Ford - all of Denver, CO, and Kalid Muhammad of Las Vegas, NV; best cousins: Walter Buchanon of Milwaukee, WI and Carol Bolds of Maricopa, AZ; twenty-one grandchildren, Twenty-five great grandchildren and one great grandchild with a host of extended family & friends who will miss her greatly.

Ms. Lucille Ford

April 4, 1937 - November 25, 2025