Charlie Mae Womble Ford

Charlie Mae Womble Ford, was born at home on October 12, 1922 in Noxapater, MS. She was the 5th of the 9 children born to Frank and Inez Riley Womble. Raised in an agricultural community, the daughter of a cotton and peanut farmer and sugar can mill operator, Ms. Ford was the Salutatorian for the 1940 Graduating class of Noxapater High School. As a graduation gift from one of the teachers, the class went to Jackson, MS for her very first movie, "Gone With The Wind".
When bombs fell on Pearl Harbor, Ms. Ford was living in Meridian MS, which was a staging area for soldiers awaiting overseas assignments. Women were being asked to support the war effort by training for Civil Service work, because there was a shortage of men available to fill those jobs. Charlie Mae possessed a natural ability with mechanics, and became an Aircraft Instrument Specialist, This job required climbing up into airplanes for instrument recalibration, and required the wearing of trousers, a real work-related benefit at the time.
In Meridian, Charlie Mae met Otto Theodore Ford. Mr. Ford was in the Army Air Corps, an Intelligence Cryptographer, and awaiting transfer to an assignment in the Pacific. Mr. Ford "cut in" to dance at a USO Show- the tune was "Stardust"- and being a smooth dancer, got Charlie Mae's attention right away. As their relationship progressed, they agreed not to get married during wartime- when things can seem exaggerated and unsettled. Soon after, they forgot about all of that and married on October 22, 1944. After their marriage, he was assigned to a post in Oahu, HI until the war ended.
As the wife of a career Air Force Officer, Ms. Ford set up 15 different households over the years, including homes in Tripoli, Libya, Evreux, France; and Ramstein, Germany. Other homes were in the West, Mid-West and Southern United States. In every location, she learned to prepare meals from the local traditions and was an expert at national and international cuisine.
During the Vietnam War, with her husband stationed in Southeast Asia, her children in college, high school, and junior high school, Ms. Ford took a position at the new Rose's Department Store in Valdosta, GA. She was the Fashion Buyer for Women's Clothing, which given her sense of style- made the garments 'fly' off the racks.
Mr. and Mrs. Ford retired to Florida in 1968, and enjoyed their time together until his death in 1974. She volunteered at the Holmes Medical Center for 25 years, assisting families of patients undergoing Open Heart Surgery. During this period of time, Mrs. Ford traveled extensively and enjoyed the companionship of Bill Tiersbier, until his death.
In January 2000, Ms. Ford made the difficult decision to uproot once more and move to Valdosta, GA knowing that Alzheimer's disease was going to require that she be nearer family. The family wishes to thank the Langdale Place and Fellowship Home retirement communities for the care and love she received in her later years. As well, the private duty caregivers from ResCare Homecare brought much comfort, peace and happiness to her during this time.
In addition to her husband, Otto, and to her companion Bill Tiersbier, Ms. Ford was preceded in death by her oldest daughter, Sherrie Lynn Ford. Survivors are her daughter Melanie Dawn Ford, sons Dustin Sanders and Brian Sanders (wife Lealane, daughter Olivia, son Owen); her daughter Pamela Joan Ford Millar (husband Don); Sherrie's children and grandchildren, Brandon St. Elliot Ford (wife Sandy, son Justin, Daughter Bailey); Juniper Christie Burrows (husband Bill, sons Otto and Emory); son Theodore Judd Hilton; Brothers Royce Womble (Beryl), Wallace Womble (Doris) and sister Bonnie Durden (Elmer).
Funeral services for Mrs. Ford will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 1, 2012 in the Chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home. The Reverend Peter Ingeman, The Reverend Tar Drazdowski and The Reverend Patricia Marks will officiate. Burial will follow at Florida Memorial Gardens in Rockledge, FL on Monday. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday afternoon from 3 p.m. until service time. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanecares.com Carson McLane Funeral Home


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602