Lucas FORD

1929 - 2022

FORD, Lucas William Johnstone Lucas Ford, Jr. passed away at UF Shands Hospital on May 20, 2022; he was 93 years young. Lucas was born on January 15, 1929, in Hilo, HI to Martha Duncan Ford and William Johnstone Lucas Ford, Sr. The older of two brothers. He was preceded in death by his younger brother, Frederick Wentworth Ford, IV. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Niels Ford; son, William Johnstone Lucas Ford, III (Jill); daughters, Olivia Brady and Ava Alston, Atlanta, GA; son, Joseph Neely Ford (Tania); daughters, Frances Elizabeth, Lily Lindler, and Emmeline Louise, Franklin, TN; daughters, Mary Ashe Ford Jarrar (Husam) Lily Anne Neely, and Alexander Hume, Gainesville, VA. Following the bombings at Pearl Harbor in 1941, Lucas traveled to Georgetown to live with his grandmother, Mary Ashe Lucas Ford. He graduated from Winyah High School in 1946. He attended The Citadel in Charleston, SC, The University of the South at Sewanee, TN and Canterbury College in Danville, IN. Lucas began his humble beginnings as the mosquito spray truck driver in Pawleys Island, SC then moving into auto parts in Winnsboro, SC. Lucas started his love of the petroleum industry working for Herschell Southard at Petroleum Equipment Co. in Greenville, SC., where he advanced from parts to sales ultimately being promoted to Branch Manager in Columbia, SC. In 1968, Lucas then became the territory manager in Florida for Whiteway Lighting, moving the family to St. Petersburg, FL. In 1976, Lucas founded Lucas Ford Associates, where he passionately focused on growing the company during the 70s and 80s, eventually hiring his two sons to become full partners in 2000. Lucas was an active member in the PEI (Petroleum Equipment Institute) his entire career. Lucas was a lifetime member of the Wade Hampton Masonic Lodge. He also was an active member of The Huguenot Society, The Charleston Historical Society, Elks Lodge of Gainesville, FL, Hui Na Aikane O Hawaii, and the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. Lucas was an author, and he wrote a biography about his grandfather in the book An Ethical Physician. An edge of your seat adventure of his daring grandfather who led exciting exploits from the small town of Thomasville, GA to Mexico, then to a far-off destination, Hilo, HI and beyond. He married Jackie Niels in 2009 and they lived in St. Petersburg, FL, before moving to Newberry, FL and finally to Reddick, FL where they recently purchased a home. He loved his grandchildren and felt blessed to spend time with them. Everyone he met, Lucas made an impact, and all his friends have a Lucas Ford story. His bigger than life personality will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the White Oak Conservation - Animal Conservation in Yulee, FL (whiteoakwildlife.org) or a charity of your choosing. A celebration of life will be held July 16th, 2022, at St. Petersburg Yacht Club Downtown, St. Petersburg, FL at 5 pm. A Georgetown, SC service is pending. Numerous heartfelt thanks to Lucas' caregiver, RoxAnne Efing and the incredible medical professionals at UF Shands Hospital. Please visit his memorial page at www.williamsthomasfuneralhome.com. For further information please contact: Williams-Thomas Downtown 352-376-7556