Mrs. Ella Louise Ford (Sweetnen) was born on December 4, 1934 in Jackson, Mississippi, to the late Myles and Daisy Bell Robinson (Mama Daisy). She departed this earthly life Friday, October 11, 2019, in Cottonwood Shores, Texas.
She was educated at Pike County Schools in Magnolia, Mississippi. It was also in Magnolia, Mississippi that Ella met and married Mr. Claudis Thompson and the couple relocated to New Orleans, La. From this union, they welcomed five children; Clark (deceased), Reginald, Claudette, Elvin, and Viva. In 1968, she became a widow at the death of her husband, Claudis.
Later in life and during a fifteen year long relationship with Mr. Oscar Gordon, the couple welcomed two children, Edith and Vachel.
In 1987, Ella married Mr. William (Uncle Bill) Ford, a Gospel Musician from Chicago, Illinois. During their time together they enjoyed traveling and fishing.
She was a Certified Nursing Assistant at West Jefferson Memorial Hospital for five years. After tendering a resignation from West Jefferson, Ella accepted a position at the Bell Chase State School where she worked with mentally disabled adults for twenty-five years before retiring.
In 2005, Mamé relocated to Texas Hill Country with her church, Smoking for Jesus Ministry, led by her son-in-law, Pastor Willie L. Monnet Sr., when they evacuated from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Mamé was an extraordinarily creative baker and cook. She was well known for her love of cakes, pastries which is how she got her nickname, “Sweetnen,” and she could “put her foot in a pot a greens.”
She came out of retirement to make her debut at the Real New Orleans Style Restaurant in Round Mountain, Texas during its 2006 Grand Opening. To their dessert menu, she contributed the “Mame’s Chocolate Cake” and her original recipe for their world famous Bread Pudding. Mamé made life at the restaurant interesting with her humor and straightforwardness. Everyone knew her for her laughter, jokes and her pranks. She was a woman of wisdom, a story teller, a historian and a watcher of current events.
Ella was preceded in death by her parents, two siblings, Curtis and Maude Lee, her oldest son, Clark, and a granddaughter Nicolette.
She is survived by her husband of 37 years William (Uncle Bill) Ford, her six children Dr. Reginald Thompson, Min. Claudette Monnet (Pastor Willie L. Monnet, Sr.), Min. Elvin Thompson, Pastor Viva Fleming, Edith Boyd and Vachel Matthews (Michael Matthews), eighteen grandchildren, thirty-six great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Guests may call upon the family for a time of visitation from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Friday, October 18, 2019 at Smoking for Jesus Ministry. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, October 18, 2019. Burial will follow at Lakeland Hills Cemetery in Burnet, Texas. The Repass will be held at the Smoking for Jesus Ministry multi-purpose center.
The Family would like to pay special acknowledgements to:
Mr. and Mrs. Howard and Joyce Strange, Anna Elizabeth Frazier, Viola Chapman, Sfjm Care and Concern Committee, Joseph’s Food Pantry, Seton Home Health, Area Council on Aging, Right at Home Agency, Seton Highland Lakes Hospital, The Staff at Seton Highland Lakes Family of Doctors, Corner Drugs Store, Choice Medical, Granite Mesa Nursing Home, Cottonwood Shores Sheriff’s Department, Austin Cancer Center, Texas Home Health and The staff of Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home of Marble Falls.
To everyone who assisted in the care and comfort of our dear mother, we say a heartfelt thank you. She was loved and cherished by so many during her lifetime.
