Students, faculty, staff attend memorial service
Aditi Dubey
Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: News
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Of all the Drexel administrators, West-Ford had worked most closely with Ruth.
"Jackie was an inspiration for all those that she worked with. She was a woman of strength and great faith," Ruth said at the ceremony. "She was so dedicated and did a lot of great work but she didn't want to be the limelight. She didn't even want to be introduced at the New Student Orientation. In fact, Jackie would deem this ceremony as an unbudgeted event."
Ruth also recounted the days when West-Ford was continuing to give him hope even when she was succumbing to cancer.
"I am dying, Dave. I am dying," West-Ford had said to Ruth only a few days before she passed away. "I am dying but I know where I am going."
Ruth told the audience that during her last days, West-Ford had decorated her room, bathroom, and nearly every inch on the wall with signs that said "Thank you God for healing me."
West-Ford's son Craig also spoke briefly at the ceremony.
"Education is primary and to love others is the apex of human existence, were the two lessons I learned from my mother," Craig West-Ford said.
West-Ford's former students also shared their memories of her with the audience. West-Ford had worked with students as an advisor, and as a mentor in her work with the New Student Days and New Student Orientation program, as well as organizations like the Black Student Union and Drexel Minority Achievement Program.
Anastasia Batchelor, class of 2006 Drexel alumnus, was represented at the ceremony by her mother.
She had worked closely with West-Ford both as a student and as an employee in the office of Student Life and Administrative Services.
"I think of her as my friend, my mentor and my constant motivator," Batchelor's address said. "Thank you for making me a part of your legacy, Jackie."
Kristen Smith, USGA personnel director and a junior majoring in Biomedical Engineering, worked with West-Ford to put together the Annual Student Life banquet in May earlier this year.
"I had unofficially been put in charge of the Student Life Banquet and didn't even know where to begin. I must have sent her a list of over 20 questions I had and unlike other people who would have answered only maybe a few, Dr. West-Ford send me a detailed response to each question individually," Smith said. "She really cared that about the students needs, and no matter what the time commitment on her part was, she did everything to help them out."
"Jackie was an inspiration for all those that she worked with. She was a woman of strength and great faith," Ruth said at the ceremony. "She was so dedicated and did a lot of great work but she didn't want to be the limelight. She didn't even want to be introduced at the New Student Orientation. In fact, Jackie would deem this ceremony as an unbudgeted event."
Ruth also recounted the days when West-Ford was continuing to give him hope even when she was succumbing to cancer.
"I am dying, Dave. I am dying," West-Ford had said to Ruth only a few days before she passed away. "I am dying but I know where I am going."
Ruth told the audience that during her last days, West-Ford had decorated her room, bathroom, and nearly every inch on the wall with signs that said "Thank you God for healing me."
West-Ford's son Craig also spoke briefly at the ceremony.
"Education is primary and to love others is the apex of human existence, were the two lessons I learned from my mother," Craig West-Ford said.
West-Ford's former students also shared their memories of her with the audience. West-Ford had worked with students as an advisor, and as a mentor in her work with the New Student Days and New Student Orientation program, as well as organizations like the Black Student Union and Drexel Minority Achievement Program.
Anastasia Batchelor, class of 2006 Drexel alumnus, was represented at the ceremony by her mother.
She had worked closely with West-Ford both as a student and as an employee in the office of Student Life and Administrative Services.
"I think of her as my friend, my mentor and my constant motivator," Batchelor's address said. "Thank you for making me a part of your legacy, Jackie."
Kristen Smith, USGA personnel director and a junior majoring in Biomedical Engineering, worked with West-Ford to put together the Annual Student Life banquet in May earlier this year.
"I had unofficially been put in charge of the Student Life Banquet and didn't even know where to begin. I must have sent her a list of over 20 questions I had and unlike other people who would have answered only maybe a few, Dr. West-Ford send me a detailed response to each question individually," Smith said. "She really cared that about the students needs, and no matter what the time commitment on her part was, she did everything to help them out."
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