Joyce Ford
Joyce E. Ford “Joycie”, 59, of Zanesville met her Savior face to face in the comfort of her own home, surrounded by the love of her family at 5:56 a.m. on September 23, 2025. She was born to Joyce E. Ford and Richard Ford Sr. on September 1, 1966. Her mother always joked that “it should be her celebration” on the years that her birthday fell on Labor Day because “she was the one in labor”. Psalm 55:6 – Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest.
She lived her life in a way that made her hard to forget. She was bold, fierce and adventurous. Always lighting up any room she entered with her great big smile and infectious laugh. Joyce graduated dean’s list with her associate degree in social work in 1995. She lived a life of servitude, caring for the residents at the Helen Purcell Nursing Home for 27 years as a housekeeper and then as an activity’s coordinator. After that she began caring for individuals as a home health aide for Elite Home Health Care. She loved to travel and was able to behold the beauty of so many of God’s creations on this planet. She LIVED! She loved to feed her little woodland critters and sit on her porch to watch them come and enjoy the feast she would leave for them. She loved to shop and buy gifts for others but even more than shopping she loved a good clearance sale, a trait she no doubt passed on to her daughter, Ashely. Joyce was very crafty and enjoyed spending time being creative, laughing and crafting with her favorite sister, Becky. She loved her family with all of her heart, and she made sure that they knew it. She loved her Jesus and there is no doubt that she entered Heaven’s Gates “hootin ‘n’ hollerin”. They probably heard her before they saw her! Now she is at the throne of God; worshipping and rejoicing for eternity. Reunited with her daddy that she missed dearly, her sisters in spirit, Miss, Karen and so many other loved ones.
Joyce is preceded in death by her father, Richard Ford Sr.; maternal grandparents, Mary and Carlos Ethell; paternal grandparents, Mary and Raymond Ford; her sisters in spirit, Rhonda “Miss” Locke and Karen Roberts as well as many other loved ones; beloved compassion “Nina” and her stepfather, James Barker.
Joyce leaves to cherish her memory, her mother, Joyce Barker; daughter, Ashley Hughes, “her favorite son in law”, Christopher Hughes; sister, Becky (Ron) McManes; brother, Richard “Dickie” (Patty) Ford; grandsons, Gavin Lewis and Maddox Hughes; bonus granddaughters, Halie and Lexie Thompson; nieces, Tiffany McManes, Megan (Brad) McManes and Emily Ford; great nieces, Jadynn McManes and Alyssa McManes; great nephews, Owen Wade and Brantley McManes; and a mean ol’ cat named, Rudey.
Per Joyce’s wishes, cremation has been chosen. BURRELL FUNERAL SERVICES is serving the family.
She will be missed beyond words but as she always said, “It’s not goodbye, it’s c-ya”.
