Ford-Bourke Families

David Poole Ford was born on November 20, 1843 in the Aimwell community of Catahoula Parish.  On June 5, 1867, he married Mary Helen Oliphant who was born on August 5, 1849 near Yazoo, Mississippi.  David Ford was a blacksmith on Sicily Island for many years. 

The following children were born to the marriage of David Poole Ford and Mary Helen Oliphant Ford:

Alonzo F., 1868-1954 (m. Laura Elizabeth Banks, 1870-1936); Both are buried in the Rough Creek Cemetery in Novice, Coleman, Texas.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photographs are courtesy of Sandra Brookshire Behne at FindAGrave.com)

Ophelia Zeulian, 1870-1952 (m. William Leonard Jones, 1866-?)  Ophelia is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Edwin Ruthvent, 1875-1966 (m. Nina Octavia Jones, 1888-1940); Both are buried in the Harrisonburg Cemetery in Harrisonburg, Catahoula, Louisiana.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Eva Merryman at FindAGrave.com)

John S., 1878-? (m. Maude ?)

Rosalie, 1882-1941; Rosalie is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Lula Grace, 1885-1941 (m. Booker C. Garner, 1876-1948); Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

The following children were born to the marriage of Lula Grace Ford and Booker C. Garner:

Edgar Ford, 1907-1986 (m. Stubbs)

Alonzo Hubert, 1909-1979 (m. Kathryn Virginia Reed, 1912-1988)  Both are buried in Greenlawn Memorial Park, Natchez, Adams, Mississippi.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photographs are courtesy of Theresa Beach at FindAGrave.com)

Mary H., 1890-1982 (m. James Albert Meadows, 1895-1949)

Ida Mae was born near Sicily Island on August 27, 1880.  She married Elijah V. Bourke who was born on December 22, 1873 near Greenwell Springs in East Baton Rouge Parish.  Elijah moved to Sicily Island at a young age where he met and later married Ida Mae.  

Ida Mae became the village postmistress and operated the post office from the Chambers Hotel Office which still sits next to the Chambers Hotel today.  The post office was later moved to her home.

After the death of her parents, Ida Mae and Elijah moved into the Ford family home in Sicily Island.

The Ford-Bourke home from Our Island Heritage, Vol. 3, 1978, compiled by Sophie Haley and Mickie Smith

Elijah V. Bourke died on May 4, 1929 and Ida Mae Ford Bourke died on November 19, 1950.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

The following children were born to the marriage of Elijah and Ida Mae Bourke: 

Louis Ferdinand, 1916-1972 (m. Mary Lucille Verret, 1918-2000); Both are buried in Roselawn Memorial Cemetery in Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Johnnie F., 1918-1945; Johnnie died in World War II and is buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.

Rosemary, 1919-1999; Rosemary is buried in the Magnolia United Methodist Church Cemetery in Greenwell Springs, East Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Skatoolaki at FindAGrave.com)

Charles David, 1921-2009 (m. Ouida Seal, 1925); Charles is buried in the Magnolia United Methodist Church Cemetery in Greenwell Springs, East Baton Rouge, Louisiana.