Earnest Lardel Ford

Earnest Lardel Ford, born January 24, 1938 in Jefferson County, Alabama (Birmingham), was the son of the late Rev. Owen J. Ford, Sr. and the late Minnie Pearl Orr Ford. After graduating from high school, Earnest briefly attended Miles College. He soon realized that he needed to broaden his horizons and joined the United States Army. He travelled all over the world including Germany and Italy. In 1960 he met Gianfranca Savorgnani. They married and remained together until Sunday morning, September 9th, 2018 (58 years). Earnest was a hunter, fisherman, and CB guru (he even had an official CB handle “Night Hawk”), but his true passion was gardening. Over the course of his life, Earnest held all sorts of jobs, but the one he was proudest of was his 23 years of service in the United States Army and National Guard. He retired as a Staff Sergeant and had earned several service awards and decorations. Earnest will forever be cherished by his wife, kids, grandkids, and great grandkids who lovingly called him “papa or nono.” Earnest was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Owen J. Ford, Sr. And Minnie Pearl Orr Ford, and his brother, Bernie Wade Ford. Earnest made his transition on September 9, 2018 leaving to cherish years of love and memories his wife of 58 years, Gianfranca Maria Savorgnani Ford; three children, William “Billy” Ford and his wife Karen, Ernesto Ford and his wife Veronica, and Maria Cristina Ford (the favorite); three grandchildren, Nicholas, Sydney, and Camryn Ford; two great-grandchildren, Journey and Little Nick Ford; two sisters, Patricia McConnico and her husband Willie of Cherokee, Alabama and Cathy Douglas and her husband Shawn of Stone Mountain, Georgia; sister-in-law, Gloria Ford of Cherokee, Alabama; three brothers, Owen J. Ford, Jr. and his wife Frankie of Collinsville, Alabama, Joe Ford and his wife Betty of Sheffield, Alabama, and Victor Ford and his wife of Eva of Birmingham, Alabama; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends. A Home Going Celebration with Rev. Owen J. Ford, Jr. Officiating will be held Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 11:00 am in the Columbarium chapel of Southern Cremations and Funerals at Cheatham Hill Memorial Gardens, 1861 Dallas Hwy., Marietta, GA 30064. The family will receive friends following the service in the chapel.