Funeral Services for Mr. Sidney L. Ford, age 71 of Lineville, will be held on Friday, January 13, 2023 at Lineville Baptist Church at 2:00 P.M. with Rev. Ben Curlee, Rev. Greg Dempsey, and Rev. Jerry Colquett officiating. Burial will follow at the Clay County Memory Gardens.
Mr. Ford passed away on Saturday, January 7 at Grandview Medical Center. He was born in Langdale, AL but has been a lifelong resident of Clay County. He graduated from Clay County High School, class of 1969, and began working with his father at Ford Radio & TV. He worked various other jobs before entering into law enforcement with the Lineville Police Department in 1977. He later worked for the Clay County Sherriff’s Department, but eventually returned to LPD, and was appointed as Chief of Police in 1988. In 2009, he began working for the FEMA Department of Homeland Security, specifically working in the C.O.B.R.A. training facility as an Armed Security Officer for 13 years.
Since he was a teenager, Sidney was a muscle car fanatic. He loved driving and working on cars, and was always watching shows about muscle cars. He was a log cabin enthusiast, often creating and sketching plans for cabin builds as a hobby. One of his other hobbies included wood working, at which his family says he was exceptionally talented and creative. Sidney was a devoted family man and spending time with his family was always his top priority. Whether enjoying rides around the farm in his Sidekick, trips to the north Georgia mountains, boat rides at the lake or riding his Harley through Cheaha, Sidney was always happiest when surrounded by his family. Sidney was also well known for always having his Yorkie-poo, Rudy, by his side as he came into town. He would often bring Rudy inside to pay bills and visit, and you could routinely see the two of them driving together. He had a playful and sometimes mischievous sense of humor, and loved to crack a joke and tell stories with people.
Mr. Ford is survived by his wife of almost 44 years, Traci W. Ford; his son, Michael L. Ford (Janet), all of Lineville; his daughter, Lauren E. Ford of Birmingham; four grandsons: Ethan, Trenton, Griffin, and Gabriel; his brother, James E. Ford of Lineville; his mother-in-law, Wilma W. Whatley; his sister-in-law, Susan J. Whatley; his brother-in-law, Richard Whatley (Debbie), all of Lineville; his niece and nephew: Phyllis F. Harris (Hal) and Wayne Ford (Michele), both of Delta; plus a host of other cousins and extended family.
He is preceded in death by his parents: Judson Graves Ford and Addie Burch Young Ford; his brother, Robert Morgan Ford; and his father-in-law, Jack Whatley.
Active Pallbearers will be Wayne Ford, Trenton Hill, Griffin Hill, Ronald Dewberry, Gary Bean, Larry Bishop, Ronnie Hardeman, and Jeff Hurst.
Honorary Pallbearers will be the former and current members of the Lineville Police Department.
His visitation will take place on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at Benefield Funeral Home in Lineville from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M.
