Hester (McCardell) Ford (1905 - 2021)

Born 15 Aug 1905 in Lancaster, Lancaster, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Wife of John Ford — married 12 Mar 1921 in Lancaster, South Carolina, United States

Died 17 Apr 2021 at age 115 in Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

Hester (McCardell) Ford is Notable.

Hester (McCardell) Ford was a centenarian, living to age 115.

Hester was an American Supercentenarian who was the oldest living person in the United States from the death of 114 year-old Alelia Murphy on 23 November 2019 until her own death on 17 April 2021.

Hester McCardell was born on 15 August 1905 in Lancaster, Lancaster County, South Carolina. Her parents were Peter McCardell and Frances McIlwain.

Several of her children's death certificates Hester name is spelled "McCarter" instead of McCardell... sounds the same.

In 1910, Hester was residing with her parents and four older siblings in Gills Creek, Lancaster County, South Carolina.^[1]

In 1920, Hester was living with her widowed father and siblings in Lancaster County, South Carolina.^[2]

Hester married John Ford (1906-1963) on 12 March 1921 in Heath Springs, Lancaster County, South Carolina. Hester gave her age as 19 years old. ^[3] :note: that makes her year of birth as 1902.

1940 the family was living in Pleasant Hill Township, Lancaster, South Carolina

head of the household was

John Ford age:35 South Carolina, Farmer

his wife, Hester Ford age; 33 South Carolina

their daughter, Louise age:18 South Carolina

Daughter, Johnnie Mae age:16 South Carolina

Daughter, Eula Mae age:14 South Carolina

their son Robert Ford age:12 South Carolina

Daughter, Jessie Lee age: 8 South Carolina

Daughter, Daisey age:6 South Carolina

Daughter, Odessa age: 4 South Carolina

Daughter, Hattie Bell age: 2 South Carolina

also living with them, Mary Duncan, Mother-in-law age:79 born in South Carolina

The "mother-in-law may be a mistake?? Records give us "Frances" as her mother.

Last Place of Residence: Same Place

^[4]

In 1953 John and Hester moved the family to Mecklenburg, Charlotte, North Carolina, 59.1 miles south.

They had twelve children.

1. Mamie Ford B: 1919 Lancaster, South Carolina
2. Mrs. Louise Anthony of Buffalo B:1922
3. Johnny Mae Ford Massey ^[5]B: 1924 (1930-1962) (1930 census she is 6 years old, and Robert is 1 year, so her DOB is 1924)
4. Mrs. Eula Mae Ballad of Kershaw S.C B:1926
5. Robert Ford^[6] (1928-1991)
6. Jessie Lee Ford Johnson^[7] (1932-1957)
7. Mrs. Daisy Harris of Charlotte
8. Mrs. Odessa Patterson of Charlotte
9. Miss Hattie Ford of Charlotte
10. Joe Lewis Ford of Charlotte ^[8]
11. Willie Ford^[9] (1942-1943)
12. Melvin Lee Ford^[10] (1943-1955)

"12 children, 68 grandchildren, 125 great-grandchildren, and at least 120 great-great-grandchildren."

Hester passed away on 17 April 2021 at her home in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. She was at least 115 years and 245 days of age and was recognized by the Gerontology Research Group who verified her as the oldest living American in 2019.

The family statement was made by Great Granddaughter, Tanisha Patterson-Powe.

"Predeceased by sisters Marie Baxter and Sadie, and brothers Lloyd and Peter."

Burial: Cedar Hill Cemetery, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina [1]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M5DZ-2JD : accessed 20 April 2021), Hester Mccardell in household of Peter Mccardell, Gills Creek, Lancaster, South Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 85, sheet 20B, family 378, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1464; FHL microfilm 1,375,477.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6Z5-BWR : 3 February 2021), Hester McCordel in entry for Peter McCordel, 1920.
3. ↑ "South Carolina, County Marriage Licenses, 1911-1951", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z7Q9-3K3Z : 27 July 2020), Hester McCardell in entry for John Ford, 1921.
4. ↑ Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4D2-YRN : 11 January 2021), John Ford, Pleasant Hill Township, Lancaster, South Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 29-22, sheet 14B, line 42, family 216, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3820. -- Digital Folder Number: 005461911 --Image Number: 00829
5. ↑ "North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGYK-DW4 : 10 February 2018), Hester Mccarter in entry for Johnnie Mae Ford Massey, 25 Feb 1962; citing Charlotte, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, v 5A cn 5427, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,953,250.
6. ↑ "North Carolina Deaths and Burials, 1898-1994", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HHHZ-52PZ : 21 January 2020), Hester in entry for Robert Ford, 1991.
7. ↑ "North Carolina Deaths and Burials, 1898-1994", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H4N6-1J3Z : 14 February 2020), Hester McCarter in entry for Jessie Lee Johnson, 1957.
8. ↑ Obituary supplied by Shevlin Leonard McCann from f-a-g memorial Thank you for permission
9. ↑ "South Carolina Deaths, 1915-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N9X3-Y9G : 23 February 2021), Hester Ford in entry for Willie Ford, 26 Feb 1943; citing , Ford, Willie, 1943, Department of Archives and History, State Records Center, Columbia; FHL microfilm 1,943,920.
10. ↑ "North Carolina Deaths and Burials, 1898-1994", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZRN-WHC : 21 January 2020), Hester McCarter in entry for Melvin Lee Ford, 1955.

See also:

• https://gerontology.wikia.org/wiki/Hester_Ford
• https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article244939007.html
• CBS News on msn
• Find A Grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/225992213/hester-ford [2] photos present 1 Jan 2022.