Reba Ford

Reba Ovella Whitaker Ford was born August 14, 1927 to the late Tyra Whitaker and Zeffie King Whitaker in Fentress County, TN. She peacefully passed away on Sunday, August 27, 2023 at Signature Healthcare in Algood, TN.

Although Reba Whitaker and Thomas Ford knew each other as childhood neighbors, they didn't connect until they met up in their 20's in Dayton, Ohio, just after World War II. Reba married Thomas Winfield Ford III on April 8, 1950 in Dayton. They had two sons born in Dayton, Dan and Timothy. Thomas and Reba lived in Dayton until Thomas retired from General Motors in 1974 and they returned to Cookeville, TN.

Thomas and Reba were members of Linden Avenue Baptist Church in Dayton. After moving back to Tennessee, they attended Cookeville First Baptist Church, Midway Baptist Church and Algood United Methodist Church.

Reba enjoyed planting a vegetable garden, canning, flowers, needlework, painting and quilt-making. She spent hours researching her family genealogy and donated volumes of information on the Whitaker, King, Hyder, Neal and Ford families to the Tennessee room of the public library in Cookeville.

Reba is survived by her sons, Dan (Margo) Ford and Tim (Debi) Ford; grandchildren, Amy Ford, Benjamin Ford, Steven Ford, Abe Ford and Micheal Ford; great grandchildren, Jonathan Ford, Linda Ford, Riley Flatt, Ross Ford, Braden Clark, Makayla, Gavin and Micah Ford; sister, Barbara Annetta Whitaker; special cousin, Betty Damon, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Reba was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Thomas W. Ford III; half-sister, Dimple Ford; sister, Daisy Raymer, and granddaughter, Janet Colleen Ford.

Funeral services for Mrs. Reba Ford will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, August 31, at the Cookeville chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home.  Pastor Albert Willis will officiate. Interment will follow in the Sand Springs Cemetery.

Her family will receive friends Thursday from 12 noon until service time at the funeral home.

Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.

Hooper Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111. You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com.