Obituary
Margie A Ford

Margie Applebee Ford, 89, was born on August 23, 1936, in Richmond, Virginia. She was the daughter of the late Marion Irwin Applebee and the late Henry Withers Applebee. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Jackie Applebee.

She is survived by her son Howard Ford and his wife Michele of Mount Olive, NC; their children Jordan (Sheren) and Jenna (Brodie); and great-grandchildren Ryleigh and Emma.

She is also survived by her son Mike Ford and his wife Lori (Immell) of Wilmington, NC; their children Michael, David, Jacob, Kathryn, Ryane (Dustin), Tyler, and Ben; and great-grandchildren Harper, Wyatt, and Hudson.

She is further survived by her daughter Susan F Cotter and her husband Michael of Raleigh, NC; their children David (Ruth) and Matthew (Stephanie); and great-grandchildren Harrison, Andrew, Benjamin, and Christopher.

Margie is also survived by her dearest lifelong friend, Helen McConnell, with whom she shared cherished years between Washington, DC and Raleigh, NC.

Margie leaves behind a loving legacy of 11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren, all of whom were deeply loved and brought her immense joy.

Margie was born in Richmond, Virginia, and lived there with her mother and grandparents. She was a good student at Thomas Jefferson High School, where she excelled in academics and upon her graduation in 1954, she won a full scholarship to Duke University. She graduated from Duke in 1958 and married Tom Ford, a fellow student she met while tutoring him. Margie and Tom moved to Richmond, Virginia, after they married. Soon after, they had two sons: Howard was born in 1961 and Mike in 1962. The young family moved several times in these early years, eventually settling in Kinston, NC, in 1966. Daughter Susan was born shortly after their move to Kinston, where the family lived for many years. Tom and Margie divorced in 1983.
In Kinston, Margie was very active in her children’s lives and in Gordon Street Christian Church. She enjoyed needlepoint, crocheting, camping, and cooking.

Margie was inspired by her adoptive mother, Jean Smith, to explore the ecumenical faith community, Church of the Saviour, in Washington, DC, founded in 1947 whose mission was to live out the Christian gospel as authentically as possible. She studied, attended silent retreats at Dayspring retreat farm, took classes, and met many people involved in this church. To mark her “Jubilee” year in 1986, she decided to make the move to Washington, DC, to be part of this intensive form of lived Christianity. She and Jean shared an apartment in the inner city for three years, where Margie served as accountant to a group of seven missions known as Jubilee Ministries.

Margie joined Jubilee Church, one of the small faith communities that comprised the Church of the Saviour, and entered the church’s School of Christian Living. She was ordained as a priest in the Church of the Saviour in 1988. That same year, Margie met Helen McConnell in a Compassion Group, and this encounter led to a deep and loyal friendship that lasted 38 years.

Always drawn to learning, Margie felt called to the newly envisioned Servant Leadership School and, in 1990, became a founding member of The Festival Church, housed in the heart of the church’s mission network, The Festival Center. Margie served as Director of Jubilee Ministries, where she and her staff worked daily to keep these missions solvent and vibrant. She continued to study and in 1996 achieved her Master of Science in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University.
Over the years, Margie offered various classes at both the Servant Leadership School and The Festival Church. She taught the required course on Community several times, a course on Aging, and, together with Helen McConnell, offered courses in Compassion and Self-Compassion.
Margie remained a faithful member of The Festival Church from its founding in 1990 until she moved to Raleigh in 2017. She served the church as co-pastor, along with Jerry Parr, for twelve years. Even after moving to Raleigh, Margie remained a faithful community member and joined its Zoom gatherings every Monday night.

In 2017, Margie moved to Springmoor Retirement Center in Raleigh, NC, where she met many new friends, worked in the library, organized Bible study and prayer groups, served as a pastoral counselor for hospice patients, and enjoyed Rummikub, dinners with friends, reading, and writing poetry.
Margie was helped by her friend and healthcare provider, Candy Moore, for many years and was deeply grateful to have her in her life.

Margie passed away peacefully on January 28, 2026, with her children, their spouses, and her dear friend Helen by her side.
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Margie’s memorial service will be held Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 1:00 PM, followed by a reception for friends and family at:
Springmoor Life Care Retirement Center
1500 Sawmill Road
Raleigh, NC 27515

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the church where Margie served as pastor:
The Festival Church
c/o Cynthia Martens
6445 Luzon Ave NW, Apt 509
Washington, DC 20012