Mother Fordham

FORDHAM, Mrs. Idella - Age 79, passed away Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at McLaren Regional Medical Center. Family hour 10:30AM Monday, May 14, 2007 at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 2109 M.L. King Ave., with funeral service commencing at 11AM. Rev. H.B. Dixson officiating. Interment Flint Memorial Park Cemetery, G-9506 N. Dort Hwy. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:30AM Monday. Mother Fordham will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 10AM-8PM Sunday. Mother Idella Fordham was born October 24, 1927 in Glenwood, Georgia, the daughter of Ben and Pearl Balcom. Mother Idella Fordham attended school in Glenwood, GA, resided in Sarasota, FL and relocated to Flint, MI in 1956. She was a member of Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church where she served faithfully. In 1967 she became a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where she served on several committees and auxiliaries. In 1975, she became a member of Everlasting Missionary Baptist Church where her husband was called to Pastor. While at Everlasting, she served as a Sunday School teacher, sung in the Adult Choir, Mother of the Deaconess Board, served on the Van Ministry, President of the Women's Auxiliary, and Supervisor of the Kitchen committee. Mother Fordham also served faithfully until her illness under the leadership of Pastor Ryan Mixon of Everlasting Missionary Baptist Church. She was also a member of Great Lakes District Minister's Wives and Widows, where she served as treasurer and was coordinator and founder of the Calendar Tea. Mother Fordham worked for several years for the Flint Board of Education until retirement. Mother Fordham loved cooking, fishing, gardening (flowers and vegetables) and traveling. She was known for her many beautiful hats. Mother Idella Fordham leaves in God's care: 4 daughters, Patricia McQueen, Bernice Fordham, Caren Fordham-Knight, all of Flint, and Pearl (Rev. Joe) Brown of Columbia, TN; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Valerie Fordham; sister, Rosa Williams of Jacksonville, FL; 2 sisters-in-law, Lillie (Foster) Millender of Grand Blanc and Lois Edwards of Carmel, IN; 2 brothers-in-law, Joe (Alma) Fordham of Burton and Roy (Carolyn) Fordham of Flint; host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Mother Fordham had a special love for the Everlasting Missionary Baptist Church family.

Mother Fordham

October 24, 1927 - May 8, 2007