David Morris Ford Linda Lester Ford

DAVID MORRIS FORD (January 5, 1937 – January 17, 2022)

LINDA LESTER FORD (September 12, 1938 – January 3, 2022)

David Ford and his wife Linda enjoyed an active Christian concert ministry for many years. They lived in Nashville, TN, where David once served as Minister of Music at Nashville’s historic First Baptist Church. David left that work to enter a full-time ministry of singing concerts in churches and leading music for revivals and conferences.

Linda taught on the music faculty at Belmont University for 32 years specializing in private piano instruction and piano pedagogy. They were both graduates of Baylor University in Texas. Linda’s Master’s degree in piano performance is from George Peabody College.

Mr. Ford enjoyed a parallel career utilizing his speaking voice. He continued to be very active as a voice actor doing commercials for radio and television as well as narrating all sorts of industrial and devotional products. You may also have heard him narrating one of many Christian musicals or cantatas and is often referred to as “the voice of God.”

David’s father was the late Dr. W. Morris Ford , who pastored the First Baptist Church of Longview, TX, for 26 years. Linda grew up in Nederland, TX. The Fords met during their college days at Baylor.

David has also performed in numerous other musical venues across the years . He was the principal bass soloist on four tours with the world-famous Robert Shaw Chorale. That included visits to the former Soviet Union, the former Yugoslavia, Germany and eight South American countries and Canada. He has performed with symphony orchestras as bass soloist, performed in hundreds of oratorio productions, presented numerous classical vocal recitals and even done some grand opera and musical theater. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of the Old Testament prophet ELIJAH in the Felix Mendelssohn work. David has done over 200 performances as Elijah with the majority of those being dramatized.

Additionally, David was an active participant in The CenturyMen , a 100-voice all-male chorus, with whom he toured China, for 42 years. He was a charter member of the Concert Chorale of Nashville . He continued to play his tuba, as well. He and Linda (clarinet and synthesizer) joined their son Scott (tuba) and daughter-in-law Laurie (trumpet) each Monday to play in the Nashville Community Concert Band . To further enrich the level of their musical activities, David and Linda enjoyed ringing in the handbell choir at church.

The Fords are survived by two children . Scott and his wife Laurie also live in Nashville. They have four children who all live in the Nashville area. Daughter Gwyn lives in Nashville, too. She has two grown daughters. The Fords now also have seven great-grandchildren.

A Memorial gathering will be held on Friday, February 11, 2022 at The Pavilion at Harpeth Hills, 9090 Hwy 100, Nashville, TN. 37221 from 1:30pm until 2:30 pm with the Celebration of Life to begin at 2:30 pm.