Remembering Father Austin Ford, Founder of Emmaus House
All of us at Emmaus House are saddened by the news that our founder, Fr. Austin Ford, passed away this weekend. Fr. Ford was a fervent champion of the residents of Peoplestown and the south side of Atlanta. He was an instrumental figure in the struggle for civil rights, advocating that all people, regardless of economic or racial status, deserved fair and dignified treatment. Fr. Ford established The Poverty Rights Office at Emmaus House – a powerful reminder that all people have rights, but that some people have to work harder to benefit from them. Fr. Ford worked tirelessly to give voice to those who often went unheard.
Today, Fr. Ford’s legacy lives on in all that we do. The Poverty Rights Office, now the Muriel Lokey Help Center at Emmaus House, continues to serve all comers with a variety of services, helping people to move toward economic stability. Our education programs help children and youth to succeed in school. None of this would have been possible without the courage, compassion, and vision of Fr. Ford. All of us at Emmaus House owe a debt of gratitude to him for teaching us what it means to translate the Gospel into tangible, transformational action.
We ask God’s blessing on all those who grieve Fr. Ford’s loss, especially the members of the Peoplestown community and all those who worked side-by-side with him to make the world a better place. May he rest in peace.
Fr. Ford will be cremated, and a memorial service will be held on September 22, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305.
Read the articles below for more more information about Fr. Ford's life, work, and legacy.
https://www.ajc.com/news/local/father-austin-ford-emmaus-house/3NZqvuHQSTgx4UcT9YxgfK/
http://thepeoplestownproject.com/2011/austin-ford/