Born March 18, 1900 in San Mateo, Putnam County, to Maxie and Isabella Ford, Charlotte Lucinda Ford moved to Miami, at the age of two, with her family. Charlotte’s mother was a close friend of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and during one of her visits to Daytona, Dr. Bethune encouraged Isabella to enroll Charlotte in her school. So, at the age of 10, Charlotte enter the fifth grade at The Daytona Normal Industrial School for Negro Girls (which later became Bethune-Cookman College.) Eight years later, she graduated as valedictorian of her class and began what was to be a long and illustrious career in education.

Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune continued to encourage and mold Charlotte and served as her mentor. With Dr. Bethune’s encouragement , Charlotte continued her education by attending Columbia University in New York, New York. She received a B.S. degree in Early Childhood Education in 1933 and an M.A. degree in Curriculum and Teaching from that institution in 1942. She was a awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Bethune-Cookman College in 1965.

Dr. Ford enjoyed a 22-year career at Bethune-Cookman College, where she ultimately served as Dean of Academics. In 1954, Dr. Ford was hired to “improve instructions” in all Dade County black elementary schools. She served in the capacity of Supervisor, Zone 6 Elementary Schools for Dade County Public Schools until 1958. After completing this task, she was appointed principal of Douglas Elementary School. During her years there, she and her staff were credited with an unprecedented rise in children’s test scores. In 1964, Dr. Ford was named principal of Chares R. Drew Elementary School where she was an outstanding leader for over 15 years.

Dr. Ford is probably best remembered for her love of poetry and her ability to compose poems appropriate for any occasion. Dr. Ford dedicated her life to children and education until her death in 1991 at the age 90.