Mattie Marie Reedy - Jones - Ford

“When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul” Mattie Marie was born on May 14, 1932, in Whelen Springs, Arkansas. She was the third child to bless the lives of Monroe and Lucy Lions Williams. Mattie accepted Christ at a tender age and she attended Bell High School in Gurdon. Mattie married Detroit Reedy. Their love gave them a handsome son Clarence. She later married Eddie Jones and moved to the Mt. Morriah community. She joined Mt. Morriah Baptist Church where she served on the Women Missionary Union. She was a retired employee of Hours of Joy Day Care in Arkadelphia. She later married Mack Ford, who preceded her in death. After 75 seasons, on Thursday, January 17, 2008, Mattie Ford passed into the Lord’s embrace at Baptist Health Medical Center in Arkadelphia. Those who awaited her arrival were her parents, her son, Clarence Reedy and step-children, Roberta Beard Newborn(1997), Osey Lee Jones(2005), and Earnest Beard (2006). She will forever be remembered in the hearts of her brother, Hosea Williams of Maywood, Illinois, sister, Clarice & husband Nehemiah Hardamon of Gurdon, eighteen grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, cousins, other relatives, numerous friends and the Mt. Morriah Baptist Church family. Mrs. Ford will lie in state at Williams Funeral Home on Friday, January 25, 2008 from 12 noon until 5:00 p.m. The family will share last tributes to the life of Mattie Marie Ford on Saturday, January 26, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary of Mt. Morriah Baptist Church in Arkadelphia.Rev. J. L. Newborn, her grandson and pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church will preach the celebration message. The Committal Service & Final Resting Place will be at Rose Hedge Cemetery in Gurdon, Arkansas. Active bearers of the casket will be Calvis Craig, Robert Harper, Fabian Newborn, Martin Newborn, Sr., Shunn Newborn and William Newborn. Honorary bearers of the casket will be Mt. Morriah Baptist Church Deacon Board, Rufus Newborn, Jerry Beard, Williams Beard, Johnical Craig, Charles Beard and Kenny Jones.