Our Matriarch Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother Sister, Aunt and Cousin was called to the loving arms of our Lord and Savior on December 24, 2019 at the age of 80 years. She was born to Walter and Sadie (Chase) Robinson on July 18, 1939 in Des Arc, Arkansas.
Lilia attended Biscoe High School where she met her husband, Leo Henry Ford. The two joined in holy matrimony on September 29, 1956 and shared 63 years of marriage together before her passing. The family moved to Saginaw, Michigan where Lilia joined Mt. Olive Baptist Church. She later became a member of New Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and served in various ministries including the Nurses Guild, Choir, Kitchen, Trustee, Finance and Decoration Ministry until her health declined.
Lilia worked for many years until she retired from Delphi Manufacturing Plant. She was a member of UAW Local 467 and supported them during her employment and retirement. As a devoted member and fundraiser for the Booster Club, she was well-known and respected in the Buena Vista community and school system. In Lilia’s spare time, she loved ceramics, making jewelry, gardening, cooking, watching basketball, and spending quality time with her family, especially her great-grandchildren, whom brough her so much joy. For 80 years God gave us a beautiful gift and we are forever grateful.
Lilia was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Sadie Robinson; siblings, Ernestine, Joann, Ellis, Roylee, Calvin and Elizabeth; grandparents, Lige and Amanda Chase, Walter and Linsie Robinson; aunts, Annie Holloway, Alice Williams, Oretha Mims, Margie Dean; uncles, Lewis and Jim Chase, Charlie and Aught Robinson.
Her memory will be cherished by her husband of 63 years, Leo Henry Ford; children, Beverly A. Ford, Leodis H. Ford, Valerie A. Ford, all of Saginaw, Michigan; grandchildren, Briana Ford, St. Louis, Missouri, Alexander (Kiara) Ford, Charleston, South Carolina, Tyrell Thomas, Pierre Ford, Brittany Houston, Saginaw, Michigan; great-grandchildren, Tyreion, Jayla, Maurice, Jaidah, Jamiah, DaQuaris, Karter, Somariye, Leiah, Jordan, Ava, Khari; siblings, Delois (Willie) Eggleston, James Robinson, Linda Smith, all of Saginaw, Michigan. Shirley (Eloskia) Bradley, Bridgeport, Michigan, Welton (Mary) Robinson, Des Arc, Arkansas; one aunt, Emma Berry, Des Arc, Arkansas; many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends, including three special friends, Rose Sutton, Ann Jordan and Jean Stanback.
The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. Shaheen, Dr. Paulis, Dr. Lui, Dr. Lorenzo, Covenant Harrison’s 6th Floor Staff, Covenant Rehab Center, New Mt Calvary Church, The Potter’s Touch, Mt. Olive Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, Ivan E. Phillips and the Staff of Paradise Funeral Chapel.
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