Rebecca Emma Keys Ford, 94, of Christiansburg, passed away Jan. 6, 2024. She was born in Akron, Ohio July 5, 1929 to the late Johnson and Gracie Webb Keys.
She was a member of First Baptist Church, Blacksburg as well as Greater Mount Zion Holy Church in Christiansburg. She was also a member of the Baptist Missionary Organization, president of the garden club, multiple women’s auxiliary clubs and a faithful attendant of her bible study group. She graduated from the Christiansburg Institute and was often referred to by her two nicknames, “The Silver Fox” and “Buzz”.
She is survived by her sisters, Barbara Burton (Dr. Edward) of Roanoke and Estelle Hairston of Roanoke; children, Elizabeth Matthews of Tampa, Fla., Nancy Taliferro of Kissimmee, Fla. and Henry Ford, III (Nancy) of Peterstown, W.Va.; adopted children, Steve Jaminson (Linda) of Columbia, S.C., Portia Morris (Paul) of Oakboro, N.C., Sylvia Bishop (Dr. Nathaniel) of Christiansburg, Terry Bradley of Fort Bragg, N.C., Mary Clare Chillis (Charles) of Christiansburg and Dottie Long (Amanda) of Virginia Beach; granddaughter, Nish Jamison of Orlando, Fla.; grandsons, Byrant Woodson (Trudy) of Ocala, Fla., Miguel Navedo of Williamsburg, Maurice Carter (Amanda) of Austin, Texas and Michael Rule (Annie) of Peterstown, W.Va.; and great-grandchildren, Olivia Perry (Monty),Victoria Revely, Rayshawn Navedo, Eden Woodson, Jeremy Rule, Garry Navedo, Reese Cavanaugh, Kamden Carter, and Alicia Navedo.
Also left to cherish her memory are her special friends, Ms. Louise Harvey, Mr., and Mrs. Johnny Nowlin, Mrs. Tiny Morris, Mrs. Mary Reynolds, Ms. Betty Day, Eulalia Mills, and Pauline Palmer.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at 2 p.m. in the McCoy Funeral Home Chapel with Bishop Anthony Tucker officiating. Interment will follow at Southview Memorial Gardens, Blacksburg. The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. prior to the service at McCoy Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Greater Mount Zion Holy Church (385 Depot St NE, Christiansburg, VA 24073) or to a charity of your choice.
