Obituary: Linda and David Ford

Linda Lester Ford and David Morris Ford, Christian musicians with Texas Baptist roots, died within two weeks of each other—she on Jan. 3 and he on Jan. 17. She was 83, and he was 85.

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Linda Lester Ford and David Morris Ford, Christian musicians with Texas Baptist roots, died within two weeks of each other—she on Jan. 3 and he on Jan. 17. She was 83, and he was 85. At the time of their deaths, they lived in Nashville, Tenn., where he served as minister of music at First Baptist Church before they began a full-time ministry leading music in revivals and performing in conferences and concerts. He was born Jan. 5, 1937. His father was W. Morris Ford, pastor of First Baptist Church in Longview for 26 years. She was born Sept. 12, 1938, and grew up in Nederland. They met during their student years at Baylor University. David Ford was an active participant in The CenturyMen, a 100-voice all-male chorus, for 42 years. He also was the principal bass soloist on four tours with the Robert Shaw Chorale. He performed with symphony orchestras as bass soloist, performed in hundreds of oratorio productions, presented numerous classical vocal recitals and performed some grand opera and musical theater. His career included more than 200 performances as Elijah in the Felix Mendelssohn work by the same name. Linda Ford, who earned a master’s degree in piano performance from George Peabody College, taught on the music faculty at Belmont University for 32 years specializing in private piano instruction and piano pedagogy. The Fords are survived by son Scott and his wife Laurie of Nashville; daughter Gwyn of Nashville; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.


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