Mrs. Jean L Fordham, age 80, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2024, at Southern Manor at Candler, surrounded by her loving family and under the care of Regency SouthernCare Hospice. Jean was born on November 26, 1943 in Erie, Pennsylvania. She grew up in Pittsburgh and attended school in Penn Hills where she was an honor student. Jean had a wonderful life in Pittsburgh and grew up in a very loving and close-knit family. In 1959, Jeans father, William M Connor became the General Manager of Rockwell Institute and moved his family to Statesboro GA. Jean became a member of the Statesboro High School the class of 1961 and was an Honor graduate.
Jean married the love of her life Robert L Fordham Jr. on June 4,1961. She was a faithful and devoted wife, a loving and supportive mother to her three children and seven grandchildren, and a cherished member of the Fordham family.
She was a former member of the Sprig and Dig Garden Club and always enjoyed arranging flowers for flower shows and decorating Christmas trees. Jean started her own sewing business “Sew On and Sew Forth” and meticulously made many beautiful home décor items for her clients. Jean loved to travel, and thoroughly enjoyed traveling abroad on several trips with her girlfriends.
Jean was a Christian and grew up in the Methodist church. In 1981 Jean would join Bethlehem Primitive Baptist church and was actively involved for many years. She enjoyed reading and studying the Holy Bible and attended church throughout her life.
She was preceded in death by her parents Edith and William M Connor of Pittsburgh PA, her sister Marilyn S. Lockwood and a brother Rob Saville both of Orlando FLA, her youngest son William Brian Fordham, and an infant grandson Jesse Patrick Fordham.
Jean is survived by her husband of 63 years, Robert L Fordham Jr.; her children Jessica (Stanley) Brown, Bo (Melana) Fordham, her loving daughter in law Leslie Neal Fordham, granddaughter Meghan (Clay) McCullough, grandson Joseph(Brooke) Brown, grandsons Rhett Fordham, Aidan Fordham, Liam Fordham, Connor (Tara) Fordham and Neal Fordham. Also left to cherish her memory are 3 great -grandchildren: Rowan McCullough, Landry McCullough, and Brycen Brown, many nieces and nephews, and extended family members.
The family would like to express their gratitude to all of caregivers that helped Jean at home earlier this year. In Jean’s final six months of life, she resided at Southern Manor at Candler Senior Living, where she was embraced and so lovingly cared for in Memory Care by Blake Nobles, Ralph Cowart, Nikki Evans, Meghan McCullough and the entire staff and team of caregivers. A special thank you to Regency Hospice for their outstanding care of Jean in her final weeks.
The family will receive visitors on Friday October 11, 2024, from 10:00am until the funeral hour.
Funeral services will be at 11:00am in the chapel of Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home with Elder John Scott officiating.
Private family graveside services and burial will follow at Upper Mill Creek Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery with Pastor Bo Fordham and Elder John Scott officiating.
Pallbearers will be Rhett Fordham, Joseph Brown, Connor Fordham, Aidan Fordham, Neal Fordham, Liam Fordham, James W Deal and Clay McCullough.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory of Statesboro is in charge of the arrangements.