Donald Anthony Ford was born on December 5, 1952. He was the first son of Zachary Taylor and Irene (Herring) Ford. He was educated in the DC Public School System, graduating from Phelps Senior High School in 1969. He was an electronic technician by trade. He had an outgoing personality and was well-known and liked by many. He was also a voracious reader who always had a stack of books surrounding him especially science fiction, action, adventure, and mystery novels.
Donald was intellectual, articulate, and had a high IQ that earned him acceptance into the United States Marines at the age of 17. This was at a time when only a select few African Americans were accepted in this exclusive branch of the military. After serving his tour of duty, he left the military and stayed in California where he met and married his first wife, Eleanor. While in California, he also attended Santa Ana College. Sadly, after a few years of marriage, she suddenly passed away and Donald returned to the Washington, DC area.
Although he attended the Control Data Institute, in Arlington, Virginia, Donald recognized that he had a passion for cooking and wanted to enhance his skill by attending a local culinary school. This allowed him the opportunity to work as a chef at various local DC restaurants. After several years in the restaurant industry, he sought a more stable career with benefits, he landed a position at the U.S. Postal Service where he was employed for several years. He also invested in camera equipment and launched his photography business, DAF Enterprises, working at various nightclubs including the IBex. During this time, he also developed a curiosity about God and started studying the bible attending services at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. He later married again to his second wife, Elizabeth Blackton which later ended in divorce.
Donald leaves behind five siblings: Jacqueline Robinson, Diane L. Greenidge,
Denise I. White, Phillip Z. Ford, and Janice M Ford, two nieces, Jennifer M. Greenidge, Napia Daniels, six nephews, Wayne M. Greenidge, Jr., Matthew Greenidge, Eric T. White, Steven M. White, Phillip E. Ford, and Jayden Z. T. Ford, one sister-in-law Shirley Witherspoon Ford(Phillip), one aunt, Joan Jones, three uncles Leland R. Jones, Clayton Smith, Kerry Muhammad L, James Farmer, grand nieces and nephews and a host of family and friends.
Donald was intellectual, articulate, and had a high IQ that earned him acceptance into the United States Marines at the age of 17. This was at a time when only a select few African Americans were accepted in this exclusive branch of the military. After serving his tour of duty, he left the military and stayed in California where he met and married his first wife, Eleanor. While in California, he also attended Santa Ana College. Sadly, after a few years of marriage, she suddenly passed away and Donald returned to the Washington, DC area.
Although he attended the Control Data Institute, in Arlington, Virginia, Donald recognized that he had a passion for cooking and wanted to enhance his skill by attending a local culinary school. This allowed him the opportunity to work as a chef at various local DC restaurants. After several years in the restaurant industry, he sought a more stable career with benefits, he landed a position at the U.S. Postal Service where he was employed for several years. He also invested in camera equipment and launched his photography business, DAF Enterprises, working at various nightclubs including the IBex. During this time, he also developed a curiosity about God and started studying the bible attending services at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. He later married again to his second wife, Elizabeth Blackton which later ended in divorce.
Donald leaves behind five siblings: Jacqueline Robinson, Diane L. Greenidge,
Denise I. White, Phillip Z. Ford, and Janice M Ford, two nieces, Jennifer M. Greenidge, Napia Daniels, six nephews, Wayne M. Greenidge, Jr., Matthew Greenidge, Eric T. White, Steven M. White, Phillip E. Ford, and Jayden Z. T. Ford, one sister-in-law Shirley Witherspoon Ford(Phillip), one aunt, Joan Jones, three uncles Leland R. Jones, Clayton Smith, Kerry Muhammad L, James Farmer, grand nieces and nephews and a host of family and friends.
Donald Anthony Ford was born on December 5, 1952. He was the first son of Zachary Taylor and Irene (Herring) Ford. He was educated in the DC Public School System, graduating from Phelps Senior High School in 1969. He was an electronic technician by trade. He had an outgoing personality and was well-known and liked by many. He was also a voracious reader who always had a stack of books surrounding him especially science fiction, action, adventure, and mystery novels.
Donald was intellectual, articulate, and had a high IQ that earned him acceptance into the United States Marines at the age of 17. This was at a time when only a select few African Americans were accepted in this exclusive branch of the military. After serving his tour of duty, he left the military and stayed in California where he met and married his first wife, Eleanor. While in California, he also attended Santa Ana College. Sadly, after a few years of marriage, she suddenly passed away and Donald returned to the Washington, DC area.
Although he attended the Control Data Institute, in Arlington, Virginia, Donald recognized that he had a passion for cooking and wanted to enhance his skill by attending a local culinary school. This allowed him the opportunity to work as a chef at various local DC restaurants. After several years in the restaurant industry, he sought a more stable career with benefits, he landed a position at the U.S. Postal Service where he was employed for several years. He also invested in camera equipment and launched his photography business, DAF Enterprises, working at various nightclubs including the IBex. During this time, he also developed a curiosity about God and started studying the bible attending services at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. He later married again to his second wife, Elizabeth Blackton which later ended in divorce.
Donald leaves behind five siblings: Jacqueline Robinson, Diane L. Greenidge,
Denise I. White, Phillip Z. Ford, and Janice M Ford, two nieces, Jennifer M. Greenidge, Napia Daniels, six nephews, Wayne M. Greenidge, Jr., Matthew Greenidge, Eric T. White, Steven M. White, Phillip E. Ford, and Jayden Z. T. Ford, one sister-in-law Shirley Witherspoon Ford(Phillip), one aunt, Joan Jones, three uncles Leland R. Jones, Clayton Smith, Kerry Muhammad L, James Farmer, grand nieces and nephews and a host of family and friends.
Donald was intellectual, articulate, and had a high IQ that earned him acceptance into the United States Marines at the age of 17. This was at a time when only a select few African Americans were accepted in this exclusive branch of the military. After serving his tour of duty, he left the military and stayed in California where he met and married his first wife, Eleanor. While in California, he also attended Santa Ana College. Sadly, after a few years of marriage, she suddenly passed away and Donald returned to the Washington, DC area.
Although he attended the Control Data Institute, in Arlington, Virginia, Donald recognized that he had a passion for cooking and wanted to enhance his skill by attending a local culinary school. This allowed him the opportunity to work as a chef at various local DC restaurants. After several years in the restaurant industry, he sought a more stable career with benefits, he landed a position at the U.S. Postal Service where he was employed for several years. He also invested in camera equipment and launched his photography business, DAF Enterprises, working at various nightclubs including the IBex. During this time, he also developed a curiosity about God and started studying the bible attending services at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. He later married again to his second wife, Elizabeth Blackton which later ended in divorce.
Donald leaves behind five siblings: Jacqueline Robinson, Diane L. Greenidge,
Denise I. White, Phillip Z. Ford, and Janice M Ford, two nieces, Jennifer M. Greenidge, Napia Daniels, six nephews, Wayne M. Greenidge, Jr., Matthew Greenidge, Eric T. White, Steven M. White, Phillip E. Ford, and Jayden Z. T. Ford, one sister-in-law Shirley Witherspoon Ford(Phillip), one aunt, Joan Jones, three uncles Leland R. Jones, Clayton Smith, Kerry Muhammad L, James Farmer, grand nieces and nephews and a host of family and friends.
