Jamal Fareed Ford, age 40 was born on July 26, 1976 to Bernice Ford and the late Levi Glen Ford. Jamal was born in Brooklyn, but spent most of his life growing up with his siblings in a private house in the West Bright section of Staten Island. Educated in the public school system, Jamal, or Steel as he was affectionately referred to, soon discovered that he had a love for cars and a love for music. These two things became a passion that defined him and made him well known to many on the island.

Jamal was known everywhere he went and everyone called him Steel. He received his name for his uncanny likeness to the young actor Jermaine “Huggy Hopkins” in the well-known movie “Juice” and this stuck with him for a lifetime. Jamal was known island-wide for being one the most skilled and lovable mechanics. Jamal spent a great deal of his adult life working at the various auto shops that were conveniently situated next door to his home and got his first start at a hallmark repair shop known as Padavano’s. He could fix anything that was brought to him. Granted, your vehicle may have been driven out of state before he got around to actually fixing it. But he made every repair with love, gave you a laugh and he had a way of leaving an indelible imprint of those who met him.

Jamal was often known for his fearless and unpredictable behavior but to know him is to also know that he was a wise, resourceful and gentle giant. He would give you his last and was empathetic to the needs of those around him. He was a tenacious individual who was the personification of the saying “where there is a will, there is a way”. One of the fondest memories our mother recalled was of him putting the wheel back on his bike (after dad took it off so that he couldn’t ride it) and then going as far putting the entire bike back together when dad took drastic measures to take it apart! There was no doubt that he was gifted with his hands and that he was driven.

Jamal was family-oriented. He was proceeded in death by his father Levi G Ford. He leaves to cherish his memory his mother Bernice Ford, one daughter, Sarayah Chase-Ford, one son Jamal Amari Ford, one grandson Karsyn Chase-Ford, longtime partner Danielle Salumn, three siblings Levi, Nafeesah and Rasheed, grandmother Rebecca Clay, grandfather John H. Horton and a host of cousins, nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles and friends. 

Remember me when you hear the wind blow.
I am with God, I need you to know.
He called my name, and I went to see
If the voice I heard was speaking to me.
He took my hand, we walked along
The road to heaven, where I belong.
The angles sang so sweet and clear. 
They sang of love and that Jesus is near.
I felt his touch, I saw his face,
I knew in an instant I was in his grace.
He spoke to me, I heard him say,
You are home now child, you have found your way.
So remember me when you hear the wind blow.
I am home now with God, I need you to know.