Rev. Yolande Williamson Ford, known affectionately to many as “Yo,” died peacefully at her Montgomery County, Maryland, home on Thursday, August 11, 2022. She was 93. 

Rev. Ford was born on May 8, 1929, the only child of the late W. Austin Williamson and Rose Everett Williamson. She attended District of Columbia public schools, graduating from Dunbar High School. She went on to earn an undergraduate degree and, as an accomplished artist, a master’s degree in art history, both from Howard University. 

During the first half of her professional life, Rev. Ford served as the director of the Office of Human Relations and as special assistant to the chancellor at the University of Maryland on its College Park campus. In mid-life, she answered the call to ministry and returned to Howard for her master’s degree in divinity. She served as a member of the board of trustees for Montgomery Junior College and as the first executive director of For the Love of Children, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational support and services beyond the classroom to help students succeed. Rev. Ford held associate pastor positions in the District of Columbia at Faith United Church of Christ and at Peoples Congregational United Church of Christ, but her true call was to an active ministry outside of the walls of church. She was passionately devoted to serving the marginalized and the oppressed. Her ministry took her into prisons, halfway houses, homeless shelters and recovery spaces. 

Rev. Ford’s regal demeanor, fierce intellect and compassionate, open heart endeared her to the communities she served. She was a lifelong member of the Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C. 

Rev. Ford was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Claude A. Ford, Jr., who died in 2018 at age 90. She is survived by her son, Claude A. Ford Jr. (Sue Ann), and daughter, Diane Ford Dessables (Jean-Luc “Djaloki”). She is also survived by grandchildren Justin Jones, Adulin Prophete, Charles Riemer and Marie-Reine Chrystele Desmangles (Christian), as well as  great-grandchildren Michael Desmangles-Paultre, Hailey Riemer and Conor Riemer. She is survived by a nephew, George Ferguson II, and niece, Deborah Ford (Jerome). She also leaves behind several surviving cousins, as well as a host of other relatives and beloved friends.

Rev. Ford will be laid to rest during a private ceremony at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery on Thursday, August 18, 2022. An online memorial service for Rev. Ford is available for viewing at https://youtu.be/gEzet2Bvav4 .

Rev. Ford’s family wishes to express its sincere appreciation for the prayers, calls and acts of kindness during this time of bereavement. They are incredibly grateful for Rev. Ford’s four exceptional caregivers and her long-term physician. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Ford Family Trust to help settle her estate.

 

 

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