Helen Ford

Helen Ford was born on Bonnie Doone Plantation on May 28, 1947.  She was the first-born daughter of Harmon Ford and Elizabeth Middleton Ford.  She began her education at Ritter School graduating from Walterboro High School in 1965.  Her college journey began at Mather Junior College in Beaufort, South Carolina where she graduated in 1967 with an associate degree in liberal arts.  This is when her love and appreciation for the arts began.  Upon graduation she moved on to Vorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina.  Helen obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1969.

While working at the telephone company during her summer breaks from school in Philadelphia, she met and would later marry Bobby Joe Lewis of Spartanburg, South Carolina.  To this union were born Alicia Roxanne Ford and Chanel Lewis.  Just before they decided to move in separate directions, Helen got a job with the Philadelphia School District entering the teacher apprentice program.  It allowed her to work towards her teaching credentials while working in the classroom.  She began teaching 7th and 8th grade science at Strawberry Mansion Junior/Senior High.  While raising her daughters she attended classes in the evenings after school, passing the certification exam for her teaching credentials and also earned a Master of Arts in Education from Temple University.

Being encouraged by her brother, Donald, Helen enlisted in the US Army Women’s Army Corp (WAC) Reserves in 1978.  After being laid off by the school district she decided to go on active duty in the US Army in 1979.  Her basic training was at Fort McClellan, Alabama.  She was 32 years old and a Private First Class (E-3).  Her first duty assignment was Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.  An adventurous spirit led her to try her hand at being an air traffic controller.  After deciding it was not her “cup of tea”, she returned to her first love, science.  The next assignment was U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, Fort Rucker, Alabama.  She worked with an Audiologist as a research assistant testing the effects of flying on pilots’ hearing.  Having decided what her calling was before committing to Uncle Sam, she began working towards her goal of becoming a nurse.  Before leaving Philadelphia, she discovered her passion for taking care of people while assisting an elderly neighbor (Miss Ethel) who lived down the block.

A research assistant by day and a college student by night, Helen began working on the prerequisites for nursing school at Troy State University.  A promotion to Specialist 4 (E-4) came during this time as she took pride in her position.  Her boss, Captain Peters, encouraged her to continue pursuing her goals.  Together they looked for a duty assignment that would allow her to continue her military career and go to nursing school.  The best fit was the research lab at Letterman Army Institute of Research, Presidio of San Francisco, California.

Helen and her girls drove across country for nine days to reach Presidio of San Francisco.  She was now a research assistant for a biophysicist (Mr. Jack Lund) testing the effects of the use of lasers on the eyes.  Their work was published in military science journals.  Helen applied and was accepted into the University of San Francisco nursing program.  It is one of the best nursing schools in the country.  While pursuing her dream she excelled in the military.  She attended the Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) Academy at Ford Ord, California, finishing with the distinction of Honor Graduate for graduating #1 in her class in 1984.  She was 36 years old, also receiving a promotion to the next rank of Specialist 5 (E-5).  Not one to shy away from a challenge, Helen went on to obtain an Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB).  This is when she pinned her famous line, “I ain’t gone nevva, evva, do that again!”  By this time, she had obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6).  This training was rigorous.  Not only did it require classwork and team exercises to pass the course, but you were also required to complete a timed 12-mile road march in full combat gear.  At that time, she was carrying a 75-pound ruck sack on her back.  She completed the road march with 3 minutes to spare.  She was 39 years old.  Few have the distinction of having earned this badge.  There was a 25% pass rate for all branches of the military.  The pass rate is currently 15 % for all branches.

December 1987, Helen graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of San Francisco, proceeded to pass the California nursing boards (the hardest nursing board in the country) and received a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corp at 40 years old.  Her first assignment as an army nurse was at Fort Ord, California.  Desert Shield and Desert Storm War deployed her to Saudia Arabia in the field hospital as a combat nurse.  By this time, she had been promoted to First Lieutenant.  This deployment delayed her attendance of the Preventive Medicine course.  She was such an exemplary nurse and supervisor that Colonel Daniels, who oversaw the nurses, held a slot for her in the course until she returned from deployment.  Her next assignment was at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.  She was promoted to Captain.  While at Ft. Campbell, she was deployed to Honduras and to the Somalia Conflict of which she would spend most of her assignment forward deployed.  After returning she joined her significant other and proceeded to Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii.  She considered this her best tour of her career.  Helen enjoyed being a Community Health Nurse (the ultimate nursing goal).  She took care of all childcare facilities for the military and taught all safety courses on the island of Oahu.  She also was in charge of the soldier wellness and preventative medicine clinic at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.  During her tour, her #1 daughter (Roc) arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for a tour of duty and they became roommates.  Helen spent time crafting ceramics, sewing baby books, running the annual Honolulu marathon, and painting, just to name a few things.  She also had a temporary assignment to Camp Zama, Japan, and the Kwajalein (Marshall) Islands.  She mastered her painting skills while stationed at Yongsan Garrison, Korea.  During her tour she would receive the rank of Major.  The Major’s favorite of all time duty stations was to follow.  Fort Jackson, South Carolina, one hour and ten minutes from Harmon and Liz…(50 minutes on a slow day).  Every weekend she came home to Ritter to be with her parents.  While enjoying her parents and her 5.0 mustang (driving no less than 85mph) she received her last duty station assignment to Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  During her military career, The Major trailblazed by making history at every reenlistment during her #1 daughter’s naval career.  While being the only reenlisting officer for her daughter’s entire naval career, they always made history by being the first and only mother to perform a daughter’s reenlistment each and every time she obliserved.  The Major retired from the US Army in 2001 at 21 years of service and returned home to care for parents, Liz and Harmon, until they both departed.

The Major enjoyed retirement to the fullest.  She took care of her #1 granddaughter (Dominique), took many trips and cruises with her #2 daughter (Chanel).  She even enjoyed riding her chopper trike with her #2 granddaughter (DagMar) and #1 great granddaughter (Jaxson).  Oh, and let’s not forget the Baby Girl Crew (Delaine, Mia, and DagMar) who she would have in tow everywhere.  While retired she became the secretary for St. Paul CME Church in Ritter, sang in the choir and became a missionary.  She became a lifetime member and Adjutant for DAV Strickland Chapter #55.  She was a volunteer DAV van driver.  She always helped others in the community.  From driving her two favorite little ole ladies around (Aunt Nettie and Mother Mable), to visiting the elderly in the community (Sis Sarah Deal, Mr. Willie Shark) to ensure they were okay.  She had even opened her home to individuals in need.  Always serving others and sacrificing herself in the process.

In the final 2 years of her life, she made the decision to join a brain research program.  She has always done for others and is still continuing to do so through the program.  She has displayed the true meaning of giving.

The Major, Helen Ford, US Army Nurse Corp, Retired.  She will never be a “was” but will always be an “is”.

Major Helen Ford has left to cherish her memories: her daughters, Alicia R. Ford of Ritter and Chanel Lewis of Beaufort; her granddaughters, Dominique S. Ford (Allen) of Walterboro and DagMar R. Levine of Ritter; one great granddaughter, Jaxson H. Ford; brothers, Joseph T. Ford of Port Royal, James A. Ford (Deloris) of Hinesville, Georgia, Michael P. Ford of Walterboro, and Emory J. Ford (Darlene) of Ritter; sister-in-law, Carolyn Ford of Statesboro, Georgia; four special daughters, Yarmice Lee, Tammy Lambert, Tracy Daniels, and Leona Parks; and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Mr. Harmon Ford, Sr. and Mrs. Elizabeth Middleton Ford; a sister, Mrs. Harmena Ford Cockrum (Walter); brothers, Harmon Ford, Jr. and Donald C. Ford; a niece, Melinda R. Ford; and a grandniece, Delaine T. Ford.

Funeral services will be held 3 o’clock, Saturday afternoon, December 23, 2023, at Faith Church, 858 Bells Highway, Walterboro.

The family will receive friends during a time of visitation Friday from 2 pm until 6 pm at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATORY, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro, South Carolina, 29488.  Visit the guestbook online at: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.