Cora Mae Ford

"A Life Lived Well" Cora Mae Demerson Ford was born in Houston, Texas on February 23, 1943 to Rever Mae Hornsby and Charles (Charlie) V. Demerson. She accepted Christ early in her life and was a member of the Belton Church of God in Christ until 1967 when she moved to San Antonio, Texas. She then joined Grace Memorial COGIC under the late Supt. W.O. Anderson and remained a very committed and dedicated member under the late C. E. Anderson (Anderson Temple) and continued under the ongoing leadership of Supt. Geoffrey Stirrup (Dominion COGIC). She has been an active member from the beginning serving in numerous capacities over the years including the Junior Church, Choir, and Hospitality Auxiliary. She also enjoyed assisting and organizing the Black History Month program and remained a supporter and participant in many of the church auxiliaries. Cora truly loved God and her church and that love was reciprocated by many members throughout the years. Cora attended T.B. Harris School in Belton, Texas under Principal M.W. Evans and was an active member of the Cheerleading Squad and High School Chorus graduating with the Class of "61". She often spoke very fondly of her elementary, junior high and high school experiences and maintained friendships that lasted a lifetime. Cora was blessed to begin (1970) and end her professional career with Santa Rosa Medical Center. The majority of her time with Santa Rosa Medical Center (now The Children's Hospital of San Antonio) was spent in the Children's Hospital section. Cora was initially hired as a Unit Secretary and progressed rather quickly to a Staffing Clerk position working closely to ensure all units were staffed appropriately. This included working closely with Linda Ginnelly, Day Supervisor, Lillian Draper, Evening Supervisor and Jinx Eastmead, Night Supervisor. Cora was later promoted to the Staffing Coordinator position which she held until her retirement in 2007. Cora worked under the direction of several Directors of Nursing to include Peggy Moyer, Linda Porter and Jan Zimmer. She also worked closely with nursing managers from Children's Hospital, the Care Corps staff, and many additional units within the Santa Rosa Heathcare System. She knew and had the respect of numerous doctors, nurses, healthcare professional, and staffing agencies. Cora volunteered and participated in many activities while at Santa Rosa including providing leadership over the Santa Rosa Black History Month Celebration program that grew from a relative small activity to an annual event that commanded the attention and support from the highest levels of executive administration. Cora also volunteered in numerous SRMC 5K races that were held to benefit the Children's Hospital. After serving 37 years at Santa Rosa, Cora retired in 2007 and began another chapter in her life. After retiring, Cora enjoyed traveling with friends and family and had an opportunity to visit many cities and states. She especially enjoyed visiting New York City and Washington DC. She had planned on procuring a passport for International travel, and a trip to Port Aransas to fish with her grandkids, and a future cruise ranked high on the list of things to do. Cora also looked forward to participating (walking the entire route) annually in the City of San Antonio MLK March and she continued engaging in the civic process often visiting the staff at City Hall in the City of Windcrest, touring business development projects in the city, and participating in the election process at the local (city & county), state, and federal level. Cora enjoyed discussing and sometimes debating the daily happening in the world of politics, sports, business, and life. She loved to cook for the seniors and would often bring them prepared meals for the week on Sundays. Cora has a great love for children, young adults and people in general and over the years many of the friends of her children have adopted her as their "MOMMIE" and she has in return adopted them as sons and daughters. There have been numerous counseling sessions and simply real talk with many over the years. Cora loved them and they loved her. Later in life a major pride and joy of her life centered on and around family. She just simply loved to be around family. She enjoyed spending holidays with family, organizing family gatherings, going out to eat with family, shopping with family, sending family out to shop for her, placing a trampoline and basketball goal out in her backyard for family, and shopping for shoes which was one of her favorite things to do. Cora enjoyed life! Cora is preceded in death by her husband, James Ford, both of her parents, one sister (Mattie Ruth Demerson) and one brother (Alvin Charles Demerson). She is survived by her children, Aaron Stephon Demerson (Rose), Dennis Eugene Demerson (Sheree), Letitia Darcel Moore (Edward "Zeke"-deceased) and Leslie Ruth Russell-Hurd (Kevin, Sr.) Siblings: Elbert (Connie "Noodie"-deceased), Charlene, Jolene and Larry (Mardis)Mildred, Johnnie Fay, Pat, Letha, Charles, Mittie, Milton, Frederick, Frederica, Edwin and Karen. Grandchildren: John, Darin, NaKecia, Jeremy, Destiny, Jalyn, Dennis II, Kevin Jr., Stephen, and Matthew Great Grandchildren: Isaiah, Alvion, SeCora and Ava Adopted sons: Elliot, Adren and Dwayne Robinson, Daryl McPherson, Steve Hartsfield, Raymond Clay, Eric Snell, Edward Nious and Kelvin Moore. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many friends.