Junior James Ford

Junior James “Jim” L. Ford, 84 years old, of Eden, passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 6:10am.

A funeral service will be held 11am, Thursday, April 7, 2022, at Fair Funeral Home Chapel in Eden, NC. A visitation will be held 5-7pm, Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at Fair Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at other times at his home, 179 Windy Rd, Eden, NC 27288.

Born July 21, 1937, in Pembroke, Bermuda, Jim, also known as “Big Ju”, Enos Emanuel Ford and Estina Minors Ford.

As a young man growing up on the island, he worked as a bartender and in guest services in several hotels. It was during this time that he began singing as a part of the nightly entertainment. His passion for singing led him to join a group known as the Quintones, formed by the late Gilbert “Bill” Caisey in the early 1950s. They were the first doo-wop group in Bermuda and performed all over the island, including the famous Clay House Inn.

In the early 1960s, he left Bermuda to live in Montclair, New Jersey, where he worked as a bartender and beautician. He later met his loving wife Rosa, and in the mid-1970s he relocated to Brooklyn, New York. He was employed as a bus driver for Command Bus Company until 1990. Upon moving to North Carolina in early 1990, he continued driving buses for Greensboro Transit Authority until he retired in 2004.

If there were three things Jim Ford loved most in this world, it would be his family, music, and cooking. He never met a stranger and he always had a smile on his face. He made his presence known when he entered a building and would have you laughing as soon as he opened his mouth. He loved to tell jokes and make everyone smile. And if you came to his home you better believe you were going to leave with a handful of funny stories (mostly lies) and a belly full of food.

He is survived by his loving wife of over 50 years, Rosa Escobar Ford; son, Christopher Ford; daughters, Stacey Ford Dickerson (Bryant), Lorraine Booth (Johnny), Sylvia Negron, Patricia Colbert; grandchildren, William Colbert, Brittany Booth, Briana Booth, Bryant Dickerson II; brothers, Rudolph “Rudy” Ford (Carol Ann), Harry Ford (Lynda), sisters-in-law, Iris Escobar, Josefina Persaud (Hal); nieces, Vickie Booth (Randy), Donna Swindle (Jeff), Rashida Amin (Ibrahim); nephews, Jose Escobar, Jr. (Lillian), Kevin Escobar (Barbara), Brian Escobar (Mildred); three great-grandchildren; a host of very loved nieces and nephews and special friends.

Preceding him in death are his parents; brother, Charles “Case” Ford; sisters, Ena Lee, Barbara Bean, Winifred “Winnie” Bean, Lillian DeRosa; mother-in-law, Victoria Marrero Escobar; brother-in-law, Jose Manuel Escobar.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com.