Zachary Brian Ford, better known as Zack, departed this life on March 16, 2022. He was born in Washington, DC on October 16, 1957 to the late Johnny Lester and Annie Bell Ford. He was the oldest of three.

Zack attended and graduated from McKinley Technology High School, He also attended the University of Washington DC and Strayer University. He moved to Charlotte NC and was the #1 salesperson at Sears for 3 years. He moved back to DC and held several sales positions in companies in the DC area. He worked at several dealerships and was employed at DARCARS Automotive Group for 10 years as a Service Advisor and Dispatcher. He began to experience vision problems which led to his resignation in 2012. But God healed his eyes. His vision 3 months ago was 20/30. To God be all the Glory!

In 1995, Zack joined Jericho City of Praise in Landover, MD (now called City of Praise Family Ministries) and served on the Security Ministry. He was so proud because he and his father served on the same ministry at Jericho and formed a special father and son bond that he cherished. He loved serving God and had a strong relationship with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

While employed at Woodward & Lothrop, he met the love of his life, Charlene “Bonnie” Avery. His nickname for her was Pooh Bear but for short just Pooh. It was love at first sight, for Bonnie at least. Those green eyes were mesmerizing, it took 1 year to ask her on a date. They were married in October 1996. They spent 25 years together, traveling and entertaining. Christmas was his favorite holiday, and he went all out decorating; at times having 3 trees in the house and making sure family and friends were entertained. If you knew Zack, you knew that his sense of humor was legendary and was the biggest part of his character. He loved witty banter and had no problem cracking jokes—most of the time, the jokes were on you. He would always give his sisters, sister-in-law, and his cousins and just about anybody a nickname and a run for their money as he wanted to debate them in intellectual conversations and he would simply say, “I have a superior intellect”. You had to have thick skin to take what he dished out. He had a big heart and never held grudges. He also loved the Redskins, now known as the Commanders. He refused to call them by their new name.

Every day, Zack had a story about his summers as a child in Culpepper VA. He loved going to “the country” where he would spend time with his grandfather Big Les, and his cousins who would torture him. Zack was a big storyteller and friends, and family couldn’t wait to hear them even if he made them up. His childhood friends, Reginald Cunningham, Samuel Brevard Wayne Morris and David Jackson remained friends until his death.

Zack loved reading outside on his deck, especially Western novels and he played oldies but goodies. He enjoyed swimming, playing tennis, shooting pool in his pool room, cooking on the grill, outdoor concerts, watching CNN, MSNBC and making people laugh. Every morning he would feed the birds with day old bread. He also had a love for Native American culture. A few months ago, he began to collect feathers and placed one in every hat that he owned even a skull cap. He loved gardening and had a green thumb. He could make anything grow and brought some plants back to life. His favorite place to eat was Mike’s Restaurant and Crab House on the Water.

He had a special bond with our God son, John McRae who he named Big Hoss from a western TV show, Bonanza.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his devoted wife, Charlene (Bonnie) Avery Ford; two sisters: Rhonda Chatmon (Carlton), and Audrey Ford; Aunts: Nellie Bannister, Ethel Audrey Dean Walker and Rebecca Mills; Godson: John McCrae; one niece: Andria Chatmon; one sister-cousin: Julie McCrae (Johnny); two sisters in law: Sheila Avery and Virginia Parker; brother-in-law, Eric Avery (Lisa) and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.