Nellie Davis Ford

ROCKY MOUNT – Nellie Davis Ford, age 84, passed away on Sunday, August 9, 2026.  Born in Nash County, NC on April 6, 1942, she was the daughter of the late Otha Davis and Minnie Bell Thornell Davis.  She was also preceded in death by her husband, Richard “Wayne” Ford; her son, Michael Wayne Ford; her brothers, Guy Dempsey Davis and Clyde Elbert Davis; and her sisters, Mildred Davis Bunch and Mary Elizabeth Davis Lamm.

Nellie was a kind and loving woman whose life was marked by the genuine relationships she built with those around her. A true people person, she had a special way of making others feel known, remembered, and cared for. During her many years working at Thompson Pharmacy, Nellie developed lasting relationships with countless customers. She cared deeply for the people she served, and in return, they came to know and care for her just as deeply. Nellie loved to cook, but even that was personal to her. She enjoyed preparing particular dishes for particular people, remembering what someone loved and making it especially for them as another way of showing how much they meant to her. Her church and her faith were also an important part of her life. Nellie rarely missed an opportunity to attend church and continued going faithfully until she was no longer physically able. Even then, her desire to be there never faded, and she would still try to find a way to attend, even considering calling an Uber if that was what it took. In the last years of her life, Nellie made her home at The Lodge at Rocky Mount, where her gift for building relationships continued. She formed special bonds with the residents and staff, and she could often be found at the front desk, visiting, talking, and simply enjoying being around the people she had grown to love. They cared for Nellie, and Nellie cared for them, creating a special sense of belonging and family. Whether through a conversation, a home-cooked dish, her faithfulness to church, or simply taking the time to remember what mattered to someone, Nellie made people feel special because, to her, they truly were.

Nellie is survived by her daughter, Donna Ford Smith and husband,  “Ricky” Richard Samuel Smith; her grandchildren, “Maverick” Richard Samuel Smith and Jessica Amber Smith; her sisters, Faye Davis Bone and Linda Davis Vick; her brother, Thomas Eugene Davis; her special friend, Brenda Riggs; and many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Service to celebrate Nellie’s life will be held on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 3:00 PM in the Chapel of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home and Cremation Services with Pastor David Proctor officiating.  Burial will follow the service at Forest Hill Cemetery in Nashville.  Visitation with the family will be from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM prior to the service in the Atrium of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

The family would like to say a special thanks to the staff at The Lodge at Rocky Mount for their love and care.

Flowers are welcome memorials may be made in Nellie’s memory to Grace Free Will Baptist Church, 509 Kingston Ave, Rocky Mount, NC 27803.

Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804.  You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.