Frances Vergie Ford

Vergie Brabson Ford died on January 28, 2023, at GraceMore Nursing and Rehab in Brunswick, GA, at the age of 98. She was born on October 1, 1924, in Knoxville, TN, to Henry Pierce and Bertha Waddell Brabson. Vergie attended Rule High School. During World War II, she worked as a button inspector for the U.S. Army at Patton Button Company. She married Frank Armistice Ford on August 29, 1947, at Grove City Baptist Church, after Frank was discharged from the U. S. Coast Guard. They were members of Tennessee Avenue Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School and was President of Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU). Following her beloved Frank’s death in 2002, Vergie moved to Georgia to be near her children, living first in Leesburg, GA, where she was active in the senior adult ministry at First Baptist Church, Albany, GA. She moved to Brunswick in 2008, where she made her home with her daughter, joined First Baptist Church of Brunswick, and was active in the senior adult ministry. Vergie often spent time in Dublin, GA, with her son and participated in senior adult activities at Pine Forest United Methodist Church. She loved to travel and made two trips to Hawaii. She enjoyed spending time with her grandsons, attending their graduations, weddings, and her youngest grandson’s baseball games. Vergie always said her claim to fame was that she and President Jimmy Carter were born on the same day and year. She visited President Carter’s Sunday School Class in Plains, GA, on three different occasions. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her sister, Lucille Holloway; her brother Earl Brabson; and her brother and sister-in-law Shearl and Joyce Brabson. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Dianne and Dan Lawton; her son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Glenda Ford; three grandsons and granddaughters-in-law, Zac and Lindsey Lawton, Nic and Elizabeth Lawton, Spenser and Claire Ford; three great grandchildren, Ella Grace and Emma Joy Lawton and Hudson James Ford; and several nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, February 4, at Greenwood Cemetery at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour before the service. Dr. Dianne Lawton and Priest John Roop will officiate. Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home in Brunswick, GA, and Mynatt Funeral Home Fountain City Chapel in Knoxville, TN, are in charge of arrangements. The family would like to thank GraceMore Nursing and Rehab and Hospice of the Golden Isles for the loving care they took of our mother in the final months of her life. The scripture verse that guided Frank and Vergie Ford’s lives was II Timothy 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” They have finished their course and kept their faith.