Gregory Dean Ford

Gregory Dean Ford, 50, of Benton, went to be with the Lord, on February 9, 2016. He was born to Ralph and Carolyn Ford on November 28, 1965 in Festus, Missouri. Gregory grew up in Cherokee, Alabama taking guitar lessons at Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals. He loved playing the guitar and piano, reading, and the color purple. Gregory was an alumni of Cherokee High School, Bethel Baptist College and the University of Arkansas. He was a member of the Arkansas Songwriters Association and the Nashville Songwriters Association. Gregory played at The Bluebird in Nashville and on Beale Street in Memphis. He loved his church, playing in the orchestra at Geyer Springs First Baptist in Little Rock and driving church buses at Bible Baptist Church and Foothill Baptist Church. Gregory also loved to support missionaries around the world. After graduating from high school, at the age of 18, he joined the Air Force. Gregory was stationed at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, Incirlik AB,Turkey, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas and March AFB, California. He retired from Arkansas Air National Guard in Little Rock. During his time in the service Gregory enjoyed traveling to Turkey, Germany, Greece, Spain, England, Japan, and Gaum. He also took trips to Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. Gregory was preceded in death by his parents and his grandparents; James "Everette" and Ona Bell Ford and Robert and Leta Wornowsky. He is survived by his loving wife Jacqueline, four children; Starla Hester (Daniel), Shawna Kyles (Matthew), Zachary Ford, Mark Ford, four siblings; Charles "Chuck" Ford, William "Bill" Ford (Kelly Ann), Randel "Randy" Ford (Debbie), Patricia "Patty" McDonald (Charles), and three grandchildren; Landen, Lydia and Sophia. A visitation will be held Friday, February 12, 2016 from 6-8 p.m. at Griffin Leggett Forest Hills Funeral Home, 10200 Hwy. 5 N., Alexander, Arkansas. Funeral Services will be Saturday morning, February 13, 2016 at 10 a.m. in the chapel with Will Kennedy officiating. In Lieu of flowers the family request making donations to Lighthouse Bible Baptist Church Missions Program, 460 Cedar St., Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, in memory of Gregory. Please share your memories of Gregory at www.griffinleggettforesthills.com.