Ann Ford Skinner

Ann was born November 26, 1947 in Raleigh, NC, daughter of the late Connie Mack Ford and Virginia Blinson Ford. She was also preceded in death by brother-in-law Ronnie Skinner and sister-in-law Carolyn Strickland.

Ann grew up in Garner, N.C with her two older brothers and one younger brother.  They enjoyed going to lake and skiing on the weekends at their lake house in Lake Waccamaw.  Ann loved singing and playing piano in church.  After attending Elon college for a period of time she returned to Raleigh, where she joined a Christian quartet. They would travel around the local area and sing for other churches.  In 1971 she met her husband, Dan, on a blind date which neither wanted to go on.  They married 6 months later and moved to Wilson for a few years.  Prior to their first son being born they moved to Raleigh where they raised their two sons Todd and Brad.  When the boys went off to college, Dan and Ann made the decision to move to Wilmington where she found her passion for gardening, her dog Bo, and her two grandsons. 

Among her friends and family, she was famous for her friendship cakes and banana pudding, no one could tell the banana pudding was sugar free, it was that delicious.  Whenever someone new would come to the house, she would welcome them like family.  Over the years there have been many that have adopted her as mom, from her boys’ high school and college friends, her daughters-in-law, to the kids in their neighborhood. She always made you feel right at home.  The kids in the neighborhood would always come by for her tea and lemonade, those were some of her favorite times.  Ann and Dan were known as the Grandparents of the neighborhood.  

Ann was very close with her brothers and their wives as well as her in-laws.  She also had a very special relationship with her many nieces and nephews.  

Ann had one of the most positive outlooks on life.  She would do anything for anyone, but most of all her family.  She loved her family, friends, her miniature poodle Bo, and especially her grandsons.  

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Daniel Skinner; two sons, Todd Skinner (Francine) of Wilmington, NC, and Brad Skinner (Monica) of Raleigh, NC; two grandsons, Harrison Skinner and Henry Skinner, brothers Donald Ford (Katherine), Phillip Ford (Pam) and Lynn Ford (Sandi), sisters-in-law Cathy Skinner and Deborah Coley, many cousins, nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors.

The family will receive friends from 4:00PM to 6:00PM Friday, October 27, 2023, at Andrews Market Street Chapel, 1617 Market Street, Wilmington, NC.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00AM Saturday, October 28, 2023 at Andrews Market Street Chapel. Interment will follow at 11:00AM Saturday at Oleander Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ann’s memory may be made online or by mail to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401, or to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.

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