Mr. Forde Darryl McWilliams' Obituary
The Life, The Love, The Legacy
The second child born to Dr. Forde Berte McWilliams and Mrs. Geraldine Arella Dodson McWilliams, Forde Darryl McWilliams was born on February 12, 1950, in Omaha, Nebraska. Forde was six months old when his father completed his veterinary residency and the family returned home to the Studewood neighborhood of Houston, Texas to live where their extended family had resided since the early 1900’s. Forde and Lindsay Vachel McWilliams, his older brother by twelve months, were an inseparable pair -- doted upon by loving parents who channeled the energies of these inquisitive siblings into children’s activities, music lessons and family visits. Their mother, Mrs. McWilliams, was disciplinarian for them and their friends. She instructed them that boys should be gentlemen and was a stickler for making sure they obeyed their manners. After a few years, the family moved to Truxillo Street in historic Third Ward to be near their Dad’s veterinary clinic on Dowling Street. The brothers often stopped by to watch their father calm the fears of worried pet-owning families and tagged along with him to rural areas when he was tending to animals on farms and ranches.
Education was always the highest priority in the McWilliams family. The brothers attended the nearby Houston Independent School District’s Blackshear Elementary, Miller Junior and Yates Senior High Schools. While at Jack Yates, Forde was a member of the football and swimming teams. Upon graduation in 1967, he continued his education at Howard and Tuskegee Universities, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Texas Southern University. During his second year at Howard University, Forde was initiated into the Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and, when he returned home, affiliated with the Alpha Eta Lambda Chapter. In the summer of 1968, Forde and Patricia Anne Boutte were united in holy matrimony. The high school sweethearts’ romance began years earlier when Forde used his position as a volunteer in Patricia’s school presidency campaign to get to know her better. To this union, two sons were born, Forde Derek and Kevin Wayne. With their parents’ support, Derek and Kevin were always ready with school projects, chauffeured to all extracurricular activities, encouraged to attend performances, and did not miss athletic games and events. At an early age, Forde professed his faith in God and became a member of Boynton United Methodist Church; the family had attended Boynton for two generations before him. As a youth, Forde regularly attended Sunday School and sang in the Youth Choir. Once an adult, he participated in several ministries at Boynton, including holding the position of Chairman of the Administrative Council and Chair of the Staff Pastor Parish Relations. He was also a member of the Men’s Ministry. Forde was a devoted man of God – enthusiastically advocating for his church, often inviting friends and family to attend. He remained a loyal, faithful and conscientious servant until his death. Forde was a master at financial analysis, always working to help others with their finances, plans and strategies. During his lengthy financial services career which began in the late 70’s, Forde passed a principal securities examination, three general industry product exams and two state securities law exams, earning the distinguished designation of Certified Financial Planner. As a financial advisor, he worked at firms across Texas, including AXA Advisors, LLC in Houston, at Southwest Securities, Inc. in Dallas, Hornor, Townsend and Kent, Inc., and Wealth Development Strategies, LLC in Houston. In 2018, he started his own company Principal Securities, Inc. advising his clients, family and friends often donating his talents to those needing them. Not only did Forde serve his clients, he was also a servant in his community. He held memberships in several professional and civic societies. Among his affiliations were The Ensemble Theater, where he was a Guild Member, and the Houston Texans YMCA where he held an active membership and served on its Board. He enjoyed the outdoors – often fishing, hunting, crabbing and oystering with family members and friends. He spent his vacation days sharing times at his Dallas area home with visiting family, and inviting his cousins and other relatives for holiday cookouts. For his Mom’s eightieth birthday, Forde planned her birthday celebration that included the music she loved; they danced together, entertaining guests he invited to make the evening special. His friends and family loved him, but God loved him best. Forde departed his earthly home on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at 1:50 P.M. Waiting to greet him were the McWilliams men -- his father, Forde Berte, his son, Derek, and his brother, Lindsay Vachel. Additionally, he was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Mack McWilliams and Flora McWilliams, maternal grandparents George Andy Dodson and Minnie Dodson and uncle, Marcellus McWilliams. Forde leaves to cherish his memory, his son, Kevin (Nafecia); mother, Geraldine Arella McWilliams; granddaughter, Nia Simone McWilliams; nephews, Byron C. McWilliams and Gerald V. McWilliams; niece, Kayla L. McWilliams; great-nieces, Khristian and Vachel; cousin, Shirley Moore, and many other dear relatives and friends. He also leaves a devoted significant other Myrakle Cleveland who shared with and cared for Forde until his death.
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