Mrs. Grace Palmer

Grace Lee Ford was born to the late Nathaniel ”Pop” Ford, Sr. and Marie ”Muma” Matthews Ford, at Magee Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was the sixth of nine children and the first of the Ford siblings to be delivered in a hospital. Grace often joked about her tendency toward tardiness and frequently recounted Muma and Pop’s jest about it being a pattern that started at birth. During the “Great Depression”, Magee Hospital practiced the custom of awarding silver dollars to the parents of babies born on January 1st, New Year’s Day. Grace made her protracted arrival to the world on January 2, 1931. She was preceded in death by her precious siblings James and Lucille who died in childhood and beloved sisters, Priscilla, Helen and Carrie. Grace Lee Palmer made her transition to eternal rest on Thursday, January 24, 2013 at the Heartland Health Care Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Grace grew up in the city’s Hill District where she attended public school. After graduating from Shenley High School, she tried to enlist in the military; unfortunately, her aspiration to be an Army nurse and travel the world was thwarted when she failed her physical, due to a heart murmur. She had two marital unions; her first marriage which ended in divorce was to Willie Jones, Sr., who preceded her in passing. After an extended courtship Grace married Norman Robert “Ducky” Palmer, Sr. in November, 1963 and the couple, along with Pop moved to the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh. Ducky made his transition to eternal rest in late 1985. “Gracie” as she was affectionately called by many of her co-workers had a successful tenure at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital where she went to school and held a position until retirement. Prior to her employment at “West Penn,” she was encouraged by her older sister Maude, who had a career in nursing and worked at the hospital to apply for entry into the O.B Technician Program. Maude told her younger sibling that she would sail through the classes and be an asset in the healthcare field. Grace excelled in her studies and was on staff in the Obstetrics Department for more than two decades. She lived her entire life in the Pittsburgh area and enjoyed family time, reading, gardening, gospel and jazz music, entertaining, socializing and various religious activities. Grace felt it was important to give back. She faithfully donated to a number of various charities including the American Cancer Society; she was a 38 year cancer survivor who attributed her longevity to her unwavering faith in God and the benevolence of family, friends and strangers. She was a member of St. James AME Church in East Liberty where she lived for more than forty years. Grace was a compassionate, independent woman who was steadfast in her relationship with the Lord. She deeply loved her family and was a loyal and trusted friend. At times she would say things that should have been left unsaid, and was occasionally a little stubborn and willing to fight the fight, however she always tried to see the best in every person she encountered and endeavored to consistently do what was right. Grace is survived by her loving children Willie Jones, Jr., (Daphne) DeNeen A. Palmer, Cassandra L. Palmer and James E. Palmer; beloved siblings Anne Williams, Maude Williams, Nathaniel Ford, Jr. (Ingrid) and Mary Ford; revered stepchildren Madeline McCaskill (Stan), Joyce Worsham (Willie), and Norman R. Palmer, Jr. and her treasured grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of other cherished relatives and friends.

Mrs. Grace Palmer

January 2, 1931 - January 24, 2013