Oceal Ellis Ford's Obituary
Oceal Ellis Ford1923-2011Oceal Ellis Ford was born to Carrie Smothers Gilmore on March 29, 1923 in Laurel Hill, Louisiana. In later years, her mother would move to New Orleans, Louisiana where Oceal attended and graduated from the New Orleans public schools. She was married to Farris Ellis, and to that union was born two sons, Theodore “Teddy” Ellis and Tyrone Ellis. Oceal resided in New Orleans as a young adult and moved to Oakland, California with her husband and children in the 1950s. She studied cosmetology and owned her own beauty salon where she worked much of her adult life. For a period of time she also managed a nursing home. She was preceded in death by her mother, Carrie Smothers Gilmore, brother, James M. Smothers, Sr. sisters Lillian Spurlock and Katie Juneau. She is survived by her two sons, Teddy Ellis and Tyrone Ellis, sister, Annie Mae Dudley, three special nephews who were her caretakers until her passing, James M. Smothers, Jr., Maurice J. Smothers, and Nigel Campbell, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
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