Weezie Ford, 94, music teacher directed choirs
January 17, 2022
Mary Louise Parrish Ford of Georgetown died Monday at home her home surrounded by family. She was 94.
Known as Weezie, she was born Sept. 6, 1927, in Georgetown, the daughter of Joel Phillips Parrish and Mary Louise Butt Parrish. She married her high school sweetheart, Francis Bell “Jeep” Ford, on June 1, 1946. They were married for 75 years until his death in September.
Mrs. Ford furthered her study of piano and her love of music while attending the School of Music at Salem College in Winston-Salem, N.C. After college, she taught piano lessons and directed the adult and youth choirs at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church. She later taught at McDonald Elementary School before landing a position as the elementary school music teacher in several Georgetown County schools, where she taught for many years.
She was an active and lifelong member of Duncan Memorial. She served on numerous committees and was a member of the Loula Ford Circle. She enjoyed serving her community and was the first chair of the Georgetown chapter of Keep America Beautiful, a member of Prince George Garden Club and a leader of Girl Scout Troop 202.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Louise Ford Stott (Charlie), and son, Francis Bell “Jeepy” Ford Jr. (Lawly); five grandchildren, Mary Louise Bahnson (Steve), Francis Bell Ford III (Mari), Wallace Pate Ford (Caroline), Stella Ford Dawson (Andrew) and Phillip Ford (fiancée Ashley); six great-grandchildren, Rayna Bahnson Armitage, Stella Piper and Virginia Dawson, Burkley and Wallace Ford, and Finn Ford; her goddaughter, Bonnie Williams Dantzler, and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, another son, Joel Parrish Ford, and her older sisters, Sara Parrish Barnes and Alyce Parrish Flenniken, died before her.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church by the Rev. Ross Chellis and the Rev. Dr. Dora Gafford. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the gravesite following the committal.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Music Fund or Bell Tower Fund at the church, 901 Highmarket St., Georgetown, SC 29440, the Tidelands Health Foundation’s Francis B. Ford Nursing and Allied Health Education Fund, P.O. Box 1269, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 or a charity of your choice.
There is a guest book at mayerfuneralhome.com.
