Bessie Reid Ford

Dr. Bessie Reid Ford, a beloved teacher, administrator, counselor, dean, known as a teacher’s teacher, died peacefully, Sunday, June 7, 2026, in Beaverton, Oregon. She was 90.

For more than 50 years, Bessie dedicated herself to educating, supporting, and inspiring multiple generations of students in her care.  She began her career as an educator in rural Virginia in 1957.  She taught in Gretna, Virginia until she, with her husband Seabrew, moved their family to New York in 1965.  Upon arriving in New York City, Bessie joined the burgeoning and selective cadre of young teachers in the New York City public school system.  She spent the balance of her career working in Special-Act school systems in Westchester County.  From the late 1960s until the late 1990s, Bessie was a leader within the Greenburg-Graham Union Free School district in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.  Ultimately serving for more than two decades as the principal of the elementary and intermediate school. 

After retiring from Graham in the late 1990s, Bessie began a second career in higher education.  She served as an assistant professor and deputy director of the teacher placement program at Mercy College (now Mercy University).  In that role, Bessie helped to place hundreds of new teachers in school districts throughout the Hudson Valley for more than a decade.  In 2010, she was honored by Mercy College as part of its 60-year anniversary as one of its most inspirational teachers.

In addition to her professional success and accomplishments, Bessie had a deep and abiding commitment to service and community.  She was a leader and active member of her church family at Mount Olivet Baptist Church for nearly 50 years.  She served as a Trustee and a Deaconess.  She chaired the scholarship committee, through which she helped support the educational aspirations of generations of Mount Olivet children.  She served as a wise counselor to many and a beloved presence for all.

Bessie was a devoted wife for 58 years to Seabrew Ford, and a strong, caring, nurturing, and inspirational mother. After her three active boys had left her home, Bessie rededicated herself to her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.  She was a founding member of the local Xi Chi Omega chapter and served as its Basileus for several years. On February 22, 2014, Bessie was awarded the “Timeless Service and Sisterly Spirit Award” from the chapter. She served as a dedicated Soror for over 60 years.

Bessie loved to learn and to challenge herself.  She earned a B.A. in English from North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University) in Durham, North Carolina in 1957.  She earned her first of two Masters degrees in 1971 from SUNY Albany in Library Science.  Bessie earned her second Master in Education Administration from Manhattan College in 1976.  She earned her PhD from Fordham University’s Graduate School of Education in 1988.

Born on July 9, 1935, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Bessie lived a life marked by dedication, compassion, and service to others. She is the fifth of six children of Geneva Evans and Harvey Reid.  She is survived by her older sister Juanita Lucas; her three sons, Bryan, Doyal, and Barry, her daughter Geralda “Cookie” Valcin, and her two daughters-in-law, Lisa and Ellen.  She is also survived by four grandchildren: Rebecca, Andrew, Sarah, and Jackson.  She was preceded in death by her husband Seabrew, her oldest sister Sarah DeBerry, brother Harvey Reid Jr., sister Gloria Evans, and brother Albert E. Reid.  She will hold an indelible place in the hearts and minds of several generations of nieces, nephews, and a multitude of lifelong friends.  Her life will be an inspiration to us all.

Services will be held at Mount Olivet Baptist Church, 11 Rev G Franklin Wiggins Plaza, Peekskill, NY 10566, on Friday, June 12, 2026.  Viewing and public reflections from 10:00 to 11:00 am.  Service from 11:00 to 12:00 pm.  Internment at Hillside Cemetery, 1033 Oregon Road, Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567 immediately following the service.

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