Hazel Ford, age 93, passed form this life on Aug.3, 2025 at her home in Manchester. Hazel was the daughter of the late William Jennings Todd and Everette Dean Hargrove Todd. She grew up on a 200 acre farm in Readyville, Tenn. with four sisters and a brother during the Great Depression. On this farm they were primarily self-sustaining. They had lakes for fishing, raised cattle and goats and chickens, and had a garden for their vegetables. But most importantly they had each other. Throughout the years, they told stories of the fun times they had as kids growing up on the farm including their long walks to and from school. They were a close family and continued to be close throughout their adult lives. Hazel was the next to the youngest of the six children. After graduating from high school, she left home to go to work in Nashville and to live with her older sister Thelma on West End Avenue. Not long after that, Elvis Ford‘s sister, Gladys, who was the same age as Hazel and who had been a classmate of hers, asked if Hazel would like to go out on a date with her brother, Elvis. Elvis was at that time already serving in the Air Force. Hazel would tell the story of how Elvis proposed to her after a short time of dating and told her he needed an answer very quickly. She said yes, and on July 11th, 1952, just about 2 weeks shy of her 20th birthday, they married and moved to Victoria, Texas where Elvis was stationed.  In 1953 they had their first child, Deborah. In 1954, when Elvis’ time in the Air Force ended, they moved from Texas to High Street in Manchester, and Elvis began his career at AEDC. They began attending Southside Church of Christ where there were several other young couples with children attending. Many of the young men at Southside also worked at AEDC. These young couples had much in common and forged life-long friendships. In 1956, their second child, Michael, was born. They moved from High Street, when Deborah was 3 and Michael was 4 months old, to a brand new subdivision and into a new home on Keylon Street where Hazel lived for 69 years. She loved this home and yard and took pride in making it a peaceful and lovely sanctuary for her and her family. In 1966 their third child, Lorrie, was born. Hazel took great pride in being a loving Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Grandmother, and Aunt. Her Christian faith and walk with God was also very important to her.  And she was a faithful Christian throughout her life. Over the years Hazel worked and had several jobs outside the home. Her primary job was as the bookkeeper at Powers Market where she worked for many years, retiring when the store closed in the mid 90’s. She enjoyed her work and her co-workers. She also enjoyed her Church and spending time with her church family. She and Elvis were very active in the Church. Hazel’s primary joy in life came from being with her husband and children and grandchildren in their home. Her home and yard were truly her Happy Place. She loved working in her flowers and created many beautiful flower beds around her home and throughout the yard. Hazel and Elvis created a lovely life together. Hazel will be missed by family and friends and remembered as a patient, kind, loving, and tender soul. Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 64 years, Elvis Ford, and sisters Mary Todd, Helen Weichel, Thelma Ross, Virginia Gambil and Lillian Todd. She is survived by her three children, Deborah (Steve) Huff, Mike (Keli) Ford, and Lorrie (Craig) Finley; three grandchildren: Kara (Brian)Johnson, Jason (Chesney) Ford and Andrew Ford; 3 great-grandchildren: Alec Johnson, Harper Johnson and Ellie Ford, brother William Todd, many nieces and nephews and her dog and constant companion for 9 years, Harley. Visitation will be held on Sunday, Aug. 10th, from noon until 2 p.m. at Central Funeral Home with funeral services, officiated by Ralph Hart, to follow at 2 p.m. in the chapel. Burial will follow at Thyatira Cemetery in Readyville.

Central Funeral Home is honored to serve the Ford family, 931-723-7774, centralfuneralhome.com