Seritha Ann Ford

Seritha Ann Mathies was born on April 20, 1959 in Lubbock, Texas. She was raised by her mother, Berdia Mathies-Yates and grandmother, Artie Young. The family relocated to Portland, Oregon when she was a toddler.

Seritha attended Boise elementary, eventually graduating from West Sylvan elementary and Monroe high school, with a focus on business administration. She was an avid basketball lover and played on the Monroe high school varsity team.

She dedicated her life to serving God and others. The two most important things to her were her faith and family.

In their youth, she, her only sister and five brothers were faithful members of Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church. She was a member of the youth choir, youth usher board and the church youth group. In adulthood, she was a member of St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church under the late Rev. James C.E. Faulkner, where she was a member of the choir and young women's mission. And, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, where she was a member of the senior choir. At the time of her passing, she was a longtime member of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.

She worked at the downtown branch of U.S. Bank, where she met Scott Ford. They later married and to this union her only daughter, LaQuieta was born. Seritha's greatest joy was being a mother to her only daughter, LaQuieta. She worked for a short time for the City of Portland and 14 years at DHS to support LaQuieta and herself.

Preceding her in death: mother, Berdia Mathies-Yates; grandmother, Artie Young; and brothers, Dennis and Jordon Mathies.

Seritha leaves to cherish her memory: daughter, LaQuieta Ford; sister, Corinthian (Gerry) Kurney; brothers, Pierre (Linda), Gerald (Lesile) and Derald Mathies; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family and friends.