Isabell Goodwin Ford

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. - Psalm 91:2

Isabell G. Ford, affectionately known as "Bernice", was born April 18, 1950, in Yemassee, South Carolina to Matthew and Sarah Anne Goodwin.

She grew up in the Jonesville area of Yemassee, alongside 10 siblings and attended Colleton High School. After High School she married and moved to Harlem, New York, and from this union she gave birth to her first child. When she returned to South Carolina, she re-met Richmond Ford and remarried, birthing two more children. She grew up going to church with her family. With true love for the Lord and would go on to become an Evangelist.

A determined and hardworking person, she had various jobs throughout her life from South Carolina to New York. However, during her early years she was taught to sew by her mother and developed a love for it. She became a gifted seamstress who would later start and run her own Fashion businesses, Bell's Variety and Creations and Fashion Boutique Plus. Aside from her love for sewing, she would also go on to open a bookstore called House of Refuge Bible Bookstore and drive School Bus for the Colleton County School System. In her free time, she enjoyed evangelizing, bargain hunting, fishing, fashion, carpentry projects, listening to music, socializing online and spending time with her family.  She loved her family.

Five siblings preceded her in death: Elizabeth Goodwin, Charlie Goodwin, Anthony Goodwin, Sarah Goodwin and Thomas Goodwin.

Those left to cherish her memory and legacy are her husband, Richmond Ford Sr.; three children, Iona C.M. Davis, Richmond (Maria R.) Ford, II and Ashley Ford; 16 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; siblings, Bertha Williams, Mary Blue, Herbert Goodwin, Lloyd (Eva) Goodwin, Matthew (Delores) Goodwin and Lester Goodwin; Sisters and Brothers-in-laws, Cynthia Ford, Lou Bertha Ford, Ada Ree Chaplin, Aretha Mae Ford, Amos (Shirley) Ford, Robert (Rosa Lee)  Ford, Eugene Ford, Ruby (Stanley) Smalls, Cathy (Harvey) McClain, Elliott (Nette) Manigo,  Derrick Manigo, Shirley Goodwin and Rosanne Goodwin,  along with  a host of nieces, nephews, loving family and friends.

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