Guillaume Ford

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• Reverend Dr. Jean Joseph Guillaume Charles Ford, a stalwart champion of the

  Christian faith and the inspirational patriarch of the Ford family, died peacefully on

  November 16, 2021 at his home in Bay Shore, NY at the age of 104.

  Jean Joseph Guillaume Charles Lespinasse was born on April 6, 1917 in Port-au-

  Prince, Haiti to Franchonette Ford and Clement Lespinasse. As a young adult, he

  discovered that his father, a prominent senator at the time, was listed as a witness

  rather than his father on his birth certificate and that of his 3 siblings. When his father

  refused to change the designation on his birth certificate after confronting him,

  Guillaume, as he was known, changed his last name to Ford. He grew up Catholic, but

  in his late adolescence and early adulthood, he developed a keen interest in obtaining a

  deeper understanding of the Gospel of Christ. Under the tutelage of Reverend Van

  Putten, leader of St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church in Haiti, he

  answered the call to join the ministry. As a young devout minister, Guillaume prayed

  that God would give him the perfect lifetime companion to help him boldly spread the

  Gospel. God answered his prayers by revealing to him the person he was to marry, a

  beautiful and fervent prayer warrior named Jeanne Jean-Louis. This perfect union

  yielded 9 beautiful children and a tenth by adoption. At an early age, Guillaume and

  Jeanne Ford, instilled in their children the importance of faith in God, the value of

  education, and service to mankind.

  Pasteur Ford, as he was affectionately known, spent decades spreading the Gospel of

  Christ throughout Haiti. He pastored several A.M.E. churches and founded the A.M.E.

  Church at Fort Jacques near Kenscoff, Haiti, while simultaneously serving as Haiti’s

  Immigration Director. As a dynamic young preacher, he played a pivotal role in helping

  to solidify Protestantism in Haiti through his electrifying sermons, his writings, his radio

  ministry, his ecumenical approach, and his ardent love for La Grande Cohorte, which

  flourished under the leadership of Alice Fougy, and unwavering support of Jeanne Ford,

  Costa Nicolas, Obed Jean-Louis and Ecilie Mamousette. Upon the death of Reverend

  Van Putten, he was appointed Pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Church and Superintendent of

  the A.M.E. Mission in Haiti, a position that he held well into his late eighties.

  Pasteur Ford epitomized servant leadership throughout his life, whether in his

  evangelical ministry or as Director of the Immigration Department in Haiti where he

  helped countless people escape the tyranny of the repressive Duvalier regime.

  Following the death of his beloved wife, Jeanne Ford, Reverend Ford emigrated to the

  United States to rejoin his children. He continued not only to spread the Gospel, but

  also to mentor other pastors until the good Lord called him home to Glory this past

  Tuesday, November 16, 2021. For his immense and selfless dedication to preaching the

  Gospel of Christ, serving others, fighting for justice, feeding the hungry and clothing the
  naked, Reverend Ford was bestowed a Doctorate degree, Honoris Causa, by the State
  University of Haiti (Universite d’Etat d’Haiti).
  In addition to his unflappable faith and love for Jesus-Christ, Papi Ford most enjoyed
  being present with family, basking in warm weather, dressing elegantly, playing
  dominoes and dancing with his grandchildren, and transcending the notion of age
  through his ability to hold meaningful and impactful conversations with members of any
  generation. He will be most remembered for his unwavering faith, jovial character, and
  the abundant love and compassion he showed to so many. Although we continue to
  weep and mourn the absence of our father, leader, exemplary role model, faithful
  disciple, and friend, we know the gates of heaven opened widely to welcome him to
  Glory on Tuesday evening, with loud cries of joy and resounding chants of: “Well done
  my good and faithful servant!” “Well done Papi Ford!”
  Reverend Dr. Guillaume Ford is survived by his children Guy-Evans, Micaelle, Paule-
  Danielle, Marlene, Jean Guillaume, Henri Ronald, Florence Magalie, Billy Hans, and
  Rosie. Additionally, he leaves a legacy of 20 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, a
  great-great grandchild, and a host of family and friends. He is preceded in death by his
  wife, Jeanne Ford and his beloved daughter, Mary Tamara Joelle Ford.
  A funeral service will be held on Monday, November 22, 2021 at 10 AM, at Eglise
  Baptiste d'Expression Francaise (French Speaking Baptist Church) located at 209
  Clermont Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. The final viewing will take place at 9 AM. Immediately
  following the funeral service, the interment will take place at Cypress Hill Cemetery in
  Queens, NY. You can livestream the funeral service using the link below starting at 10
  AM:

  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84180883923?pwd=c2V4a2FSS1J5blN0ZHcyQ1VybGlNUT09#success

   

  In lieu of flowers, we invite you to donate to the Haitian American Alliance of New York:

  https://haany.org/

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