Dorothy Bowles Ford is a big name in the Ford family, a political powerhouse out of Memphis, Tennessee.
She’s best known as the mom of Harold Ford Jr., a former U.S. Congressman, and the former wife of Harold Ford Sr., the first African-American congressman from Tennessee.
Born in 1949 right in Memphis, she’s 76 years old as of 2025.
Here’s what her life looked like and where she is today.
Dorothy Bowles Ford Quick Facts
| Wiki and Bio | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dorothy Bowles Ford |
| Nick Name | Update soon |
| Profession | Consumer Coordinator, Campaign Administrator |
| Famous as | Harold Ford Jr.’s Mother |
| Age | 76 years old |
| Date of Birth | January 1, 1949 |
| Birthplace/Hometown | Memphis, Tennessee, USA |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Gender | Female |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sun Sign (Zodiac Sign) | Capricorn |
| Height (in feet) | 5 feet 6 inches |
| Height (in centimeters) | 167.64 cm |
| Weight (in pounds) | 132.28 lbs |
| Weight (in kilograms) | 60 kg |
| Body Measurements (in inches) | 34-28-36 |
| Body Measurements (in centimeters) | 86-71-91 |
| Shoe Size in US | 8 |
| Tattoo Details | None |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Brunette |
| Parents | Mr. & Mrs. Bowles |
| Siblings | Update soon |
| Relationship Status | Divorced |
| Dating History | Harold Ford Sr. (1969–1999) |
| Partner | None |
| Children | Harold Ford Jr., Newton Jake Ford, Sir Isaac Ford |
| Highest Qualification | Update soon |
| School | Geeter High School, Memphis |
| Alma Mater | Update soon |
| Hobbies & Favorites | Community service, education advocacy (assumed) |
| Favorite Celebrities | Update soon |
| Dream Holiday | Update soon |
| Favorite Color | Update soon |
| Interests | Civil rights, public service |
| Net Worth | $3–5 million (family estimate) as of 2025 |
| Salary & Earnings | Income from Potomac Electric Power, possible divorce settlement |
| Update soon | |
| Update soon |
Dorothy Bowles Ford Early Life
Ex-wife of politician Harold Ford Sr., Dorothy was born in 1949 in Memphis, Tennessee.
As of today, she is 76 years old.
She’s pretty private about her childhood, so we don’t have much on her parents or early school days.
Growing up in Memphis, a city steeped in civil rights history, probably had a big impact on her dedication to community service later on.
There aren’t any juicy stories or big names tied to her early years, which tracks with her keeping things on the down-low.
Back in the mid-20th century, Memphis was dealing with heavy racial segregation, and the civil rights movement was in full swing.
Experiencing that likely shaped the world Dorothy grew up in.
When she married Harold Ford Sr., she stepped into the public eye, joining a family that was already making waves in politics.
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Dorothy Bowles Ford Husband & Children
The whole Ford family includes Harold Ford Sr.’s siblings, like John N. Ford, a former Tennessee State Senator who got tangled up in a bribery conviction in 2007, and their grandfather, N.J. Ford, who started a well-known funeral home in Memphis.
However, we’re going to only talk about Dorothy’s husband and children.
Dorothy’s closest family includes her ex-husband, Harold Ford Sr., and their three sons: Harold Ford Jr., Jake Ford, and Isaac Ford.
Harold Ford Sr., born May 20, 1945, was a U.S. Congressman from 1975 to 1997, representing Tennessee’s 9th district.
He broke ground as the state’s first African-American congressman, pushing hard for job training, healthcare, and welfare programs.
Harold Ford Jr., born May 11, 1970, followed in his dad’s footsteps, serving as a Congressman from 1997 to 2007.
These days, he’s a big shot as Vice Chairman at PNC Financial Services, plus he’s a pundit and author.
Jake Ford, born October 1, 1972, tried his hand at Congress in 2006 and 2008 without luck and stirred up some family drama, like getting into it with his brother.
Isaac Ford, the youngest, keeps a lower profile but had a run-in with the law over a DUI in 2007.
Dorothy’s been the glue holding this family together, nudging her sons toward public service.
Her focus on education and community values really shows in Harold Ford Jr.’s career, where he carved out a moderate Democratic stance.
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Dorothy Bowles Ford Relationship History
Dorothy and Harold Ford Sr. married in 1969, and their marriage lasted 30 years until they called it quits in 1999.
They met as teens at Geeter High School in Memphis, and their relationship grew alongside Harold Sr.’s budding political career.
Together, Dorothy and Harold Sr. raised three sons, with Dorothy handling a lot of the behind-the-scenes work for her husband’s campaigns.
After the divorce, Harold Ford Sr. remarried Michelle Roberts, and they have two kids, Andrew and Ava.
Dorothy, though, hasn’t jumped back into marriage and has kept her personal life quiet.
There’s no gossip about past flings or new relationships, and staying true to her private ways.
Dorothy kept the Ford name, which means she remains connected to the family’s legacy, even after the marriage ended.
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Dorothy Bowles Ford and Harold Ford Sr. Marriage
Harold Ford Sr., Dorothy’s ex, is a heavy hitter in Tennessee politics.
Born May 20, 1945, in Memphis, he served as a Congressman for 22 years, from 1975 to 1997.
As Tennessee’s first African-American congressman, he made waves on the House Ways and Means Committee, bringing federal funds to his district for job training, healthcare, and welfare reform.
A 1987 bank fraud indictment put a dent in his reputation, Harold walked out clear.
The Ford family’s $3–5 million net worth comes largely from Harold Sr.’s political work and later consulting gigs.
He splits his time between Tennessee and Fisher Island, Florida, and stays active in the Democratic Party.
During their marriage, Dorothy and Harold Sr. were a team.
She took care of administrative tasks to keep his campaigns running smoothly, all the while, they raised three sons who carried on the family’s public service tradition.
Even after the divorce, Dorothy’s influence lived on through her sons, especially Harold Ford Jr., while Harold Sr. started a new chapter with his second marriage.
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Career
Dorothy worked at Potomac Electric Power as a consumer coordinator and functions regulator, where she fought for consumer rights and tackled utility regulations.
Colleagues gave her props for her creative ideas and really getting what customers needed.
That job fit right in with her family’s focus on serving the public.
Beyond that, she took on campaign coordination and other administrative tasks to support Harold Ford Sr.’s political career.
There aren’t any big awards tied to her name, but her work made a difference in the context of her family’s influence.
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Dorothy Bowles Ford in 2025
Dorothy’s public image is all about being a strong, supportive mom and a community advocate.
People in Memphis admire her smarts, resilience, and commitment to civil rights and community work.
Her biggest legacy is shaping Harold Ford Jr.’s political career, where her push for education and service helped guide his approach to leadership.
She’s managed to steer clear of any major controversies herself.
The Ford family, though, has had its share of drama, like Harold Ford Sr.’s 1987 indictment (he was cleared) and Jake Ford’s 2008 comments about the family’s ethnic identity that stirred things up.
Dorothy’s stayed out of those messes, keeping her head down.
Online searches on platforms like X mostly focus on her family connections, with no dirt tied to her personally.
Her philanthropy, especially in education and community activism, gets some recognition, but she doesn’t broadcast it.
People see her as a quiet force, backing her family’s public work while making a real impact in her community.
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Dorothy Bowles Ford Net Worth
The Ford family’s net worth is pegged at $3–5 million, mostly from Harold Ford Sr.’s political career and business ventures.
Her main income likely came from her job at Potomac Electric Power, and there’s some speculation about divorce settlements, but nothing concrete.
