On March 7, 1938, Estena Ford Eldridge was born in Charleston, South Carolina. She is the second of nine children born to William and Virginia ‘Queenie’ Ford. She remained in South Carolina through high school where she excelled academically graduating with top honors from Haut Gap High School.

After graduation, Estena moved to Philadelphia, PA where she stayed with her Uncle Bishop B. F. Peterson Sr. and his family. Already a young woman of faith, it was during this time her relationship with Christ grew and she was baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Ghost. Estena continued to serve the Lord as an active member of The Pentecostal Church of Jesus Christ in Prospect, VA singing in the choir, serving as trustee and Church Mother.

While in Philadelphia, Estena met and married her soulmate, Clement Andrew Eldridge to whom she would remain married for 60 years. It is here also Estena began her educational journey by becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse...which at that time, for women of color was a task often met with obstacles.

After she and Andrew moved to Virginia, Estena decided to continue her educational journey by enrolling at Virginia Commonwealth University where she earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. While continuing to care for her family, Estena then pursued graduate studies at Hampton University to become a Nurse Practitioner. She worked quickly to establish herself as a practitioner, ultimately retiring from McGuire Veterans Hospital in Richmond, VA. Her contributions as a dedicated member of the healthcare profession earned many accolades and are recognized in the historical text The Hidden and the Forgotten.

She is preceeded in death by her husband of 60 years, Clement Andrew Eldridge, her parents, William and Virginia Ford, and siblings Rosa White, Emma Booker, James Ford and Ronald Ford. Estena leaves to mourn siblings William Ford (Elizabeth), Samuel Ford (Kim), Nancy Ford and Isacc Ford (Margaret); her children Jacqueline, Jermaine (April) and Jarrod (Stephanie); 11 Grandchildren, Great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends…she will be sorely missed.