Melba Joyce Ford

"REMEMBERING MELBA"

It was a very cold winter day in El Campo, Texas January 4, 1943, When Robert Lee and Smithie Lee Bacon Tyler welcomed their first child, a beautiful baby girl into the world, whom they named Melba Joyce Tyler. Her parents brought her up in the fear and admonition of God. Melba Joyce was raised in the Church Of God a Pentecostal church. Melba's parents had her Christened at an early age. This was the beginning of her Christian walk with the Lord. She was active in every department in the church, She learned to play the piano at an early age and at twelve years of age she began playing the piano, joining Doris Easton on the organ for Sunday School at East End Church of God. She would later move to Houston, TX where she attended South Park C.O.G. sharing her musical talent. She moved back to San Antonio and shared her musical expertise with St. Paul Baptist Church and also Reconciled East End C.O.G.

She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior where her grandfather Rev. Sebron B. Tyler was the pastor and Co-founder of the Church of God in Texas. She was active in her local, state and national church. In her adult life she followed in her Mother's Smithie Lee Tyler's footsteps who served as president of the Texas Women's Connection (TWC) for two years and stewardship coordinator for 4 years. She loved attending their summer Campground meeting in Hallettsville, where she met and shared with many young people from other Church of God churches in Texas as well as other denominations.

This admired happy and intelligent little girl attended Grant Elementary School on the Westside after her parents moved to the deep westside Melba attended St. Peter Claver Catholic and High School and graduated in 1960 after graduation she attended nursing school to pursue a degree in the medical field. Sometime in 1961 Melba met and fell in love with a young man by the name of Royce Ford. Whatever he said swept her off her feet and the two became one getting married in 1961. She and Royce had three children Roicetta Jewel, Robert Vann, and Andre Ford. Raising them on the eastside of San Antonio. Still pursuing her desire to help and care for others Melba worked at several nursing facilities here in San Antonio,Texas before being employed at Bexar County Hospital working the 3pm-11pm shift for several years as a medical ward clerk, Time brings about a change in 1979 Melba moved to Houston, Texas and was employed by Hermann Medical Center on Fannin Street. She enjoyed working at the hospital and left a spirit of laughter, Melba returned home to assist with her ailing father Robert Lee Tyler, Sr.

Melba was a cook second to none, she was known for her baking specialties:7-up, Red Velvet, German Chocolate,Sock-it-to-me, Strawberry Short Cake, Peach Cobbler, Sweet Potatoe, Lemon Meringue Pies, Banana Pudding and Mincemeat Cookies just to name a few. She loved hosting Sunday Dinners with her specialties: Chuck roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, mac and cheese, cabbage greens. Enchilada dinners and those Christmas dinners, birthday celebrations, while enjoying her family. Listening to music, playing games, watching baseball and football, playing bingo, uno, and checkers, just to name a few. She loved to watch old movies, Sleeping with the Enemy, A Few Good Men, and Alice in Wonderland.

Melba Joyce is preceded in death by both maternal and paternal grandparents; one son-in-law Everette Pickens, two grandsons-Ernesto Valencia and Everette Pickens,Jr., one granddaughter DeShaunta Ford-Marshall, Father-Robert L. Tyler,Sr., Mother-Smithie L. Bacon Tyler, and four brothers Cecil LaVern Tyler, Sebron C. Tyler, Wilbert C. Tyler and Donald R. Tyler.

She leaves to celebrate her life one daughter Roicetta J. Pickens, two sons- Robert Vann Ford, Sr. and Andre Sr. (MChel) Ford, one stepson Kenneth Ford; two Brothers Robert Jr. (Patti) Tyler, Gerald, Sr. (Barbara) Tyler, One Brother-in-law Professor Oscar Ford, Jr. nine Grand children: Johnathan Marshall, Andre Ford, Jr., DiAndrea (Alex) Mosley, Eric Pickens,Sr., Aneissa Ford, Robert Ford,Jr., Desiree Valencia, Terrance Wallace; ten Great-Grandchildren: Ethan Marshall, Elise Marshall, Emmanuel Marshall, Adon Mosley, Celia Mosley, Julian Valencia, Amelia Valencia, Amir Valencia,Elijah Wallace and Penelope Wallace. A special Sister Marion Allean Pettit. A host of nieces and nephews,and other family members and friends.

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