Margaret Ford’s Legacy in Chicago History

That same legacy of care, stewardship, and service is reflected in Margaret Ford Manor, an affordable senior housing community in Chicago’s Bronzeville area. Offering affording housing with assisted one-bedroom apartments for older adults, Margaret Ford Manor provides a stable and welcoming place where seniors can live with dignity and independence. Located on South Wabash, the community proudly serves the South Side with housing that supports comfort, accessibility, and peace of mind. Its name honors a legacy rooted in Chicago history and reflects the same values of protection, community, and respect for the future.

A black and white portrait of Mrs. Margaret Ford, a woman with dark hair, wearing a light-colored jacket with a bow at the collar. She is standing in front of a decorative patterned background. The caption reads: "Mrs. Margaret Ford, Wife of Second Assistant Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ."

Mother Margaret Ford circa 1980.

Margaret Ford, often lovingly referred to as Mother Ford, was a devoted leader in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) and a deeply respected ministry partner alongside her husband, Bishop Louis Henry Ford, who served as COGIC’s Presiding Bishop from 1990 to 1995. Her influence extended well beyond her immediate family through her teaching, mentorship, and active service in the church. She was especially known as an excellent teacher in both Sunday School and the Young People’s Willing Workers (YPWW), and her YPWW class is remembered for holding record enrollment and attendance dating back to the 1950s.

In Chicago, Mother Margaret Ford and Bishop Louis Henry Ford are also remembered for their extraordinary stewardship of the historic Henry B. Clarke House, now known as the Clarke-Ford House. In 1941, they purchased the 1836 home at a time when it faced demolition and transformed it into a church rectory, offices, and community space while preserving its Greek Revival character and historic integrity. For nearly 30 years, the Fords and their congregation maintained the property and advocated for its landmark status, helping secure one of Chicago’s first landmark designations in 1970. In 1981, they gifted the house to the city, ensuring its future as a public museum at Chicago Women’s Park, where it stands today as the Clarke-Ford House and a lasting symbol of preservation, faith, and community leadership.

A woman and a man standing side by side in a room with wood-paneled walls and a table with a tablecloth behind them. Both are smiling.

Mother Margaret Ford served as the devoted wife of Bishop Louis Henry Ford and First Lady of Historic St. Paul Church of God in Christ (COGIC) in Chicago, Illinois. She also held the esteemed role of First Lady of Illinois First Jurisdiction and the broader Church of God in Christ. Undated Photo.

Divine Legacy

Margaret Ford's contributions earned her co-naming honors in 2022, recognizing her as Chicago's earliest Black preservationist alongside her husband. Chicago Tribune noted her as a community leader who embodied stewardship and cultural advocacy.

Margaret Ford: A Legacy of Preservation and Care

Margaret Ford devoted her life to community leadership and historic preservation in Chicago. Alongside Bishop Louis Henry Ford, she rescued the city's oldest house—the Clarke-Ford House—in 1941, preserving it for future generations while serving her congregation and neighborhood.

Her values of stewardship, dignity, and community endure in Margaret Ford Manor, where we honor her commitment by providing stable, affordable homes for seniors on Chicago's South Side.

A woman dressed in elegant white clothing, wearing a large white hat, pearl necklace, and earrings, standing outdoors at night.

Mother Margaret Ford undated photo.

Clarke-Ford House

Black and white photo of a church with a small steeple, surrounded by cars and buildings, with a few people walking nearby.

The Clarke-Ford House when it was situated next to the St. Paul Church of God in Christ.
(Courtesy of the St. Paul Church of God in Christ archives)

A man in a blue suit standing on a brick path in front of a large white historic house with columns, stairs, and gardens.

The Clarke-Ford House, known as Chicago’s oldest house, stands as a powerful testament to love, faith, preservation, and community commitment carried through three generations of the Ford family.

This legacy began with Bishop Louis Henry Ford and his beloved wife and partner, Margaret Ford, whose stewardship helped protect the historic 1836 Clarke House and connect it to a broader mission of faith, service, and community care. Margaret Ford’s role represents the often-overlooked labor of preservation, the quiet but essential work of protecting historic Black institutions, sacred spaces, and community landmarks for future generations.

That legacy continued through Bishop Charles Mason Ford and lives on today through Pastor Kevin Anthony Ford and the Saint Paul Church of God in Christ. Under Pastor Ford’s leadership, and through a community effort in partnership with 3rd Ward Alderman Pat Dowell, former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, DCASE, and other community partners, the house was officially renamed in 2022.

Once known as the Henry B. and Caroline Clarke House, the historic landmark is now recognized as the Clarke-Ford House, honoring both its 19th-century origins and the Ford family’s enduring role in preserving its story. The vision now is to build upon years of dedicated work by transforming the Clarke-Ford House into a vibrant museum and gathering place, one that brings the community together with the shared belief that peace will reign.

A group of children and adults standing on and in front of a porch, gathered for a photo. The setting appears to be outside a house with a staircase and decorated with flowers.

An undated photo of the Ford family at the Clarke-Ford House.
(Courtesy of the St. Paul Church of God in Christ archives)

A historic white house with tall columns, a brick foundation, a staircase, and large windows, surrounded by trees and a brick walkway, with modern buildings in the background.

The Clarke House, built in 1836, is now the Clarke-Ford House.
(Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events)

Black and white photo of the Clarke-Ford House, an old house being transported on a flatbed down Martin Luther King Drive. The house is elevated and appears to be in the process of moving, with several vehicles, including a vintage truck carrying the house, surrounding it. There are classic cars and a few people standing on the sidewalk, watching the scene.
A man in a white suit pointing at artwork in a gallery
A man in a white suit and black mask standing outside near a building with columns and a staircase, with trees and an apartment building in the background.