Crystal Danielle Ford

Crystal Danielle Johnson was born on August 29, 1981, in the Bronx, NY to the late Carrie Mannas and the late Samuel Johnson. Her journey is one of resilience, faith, and triumph. Raised by a single mother, Crystal was taught to be strong, smart, independent, and outspoken. In her youth, she discovered her passion for writing and public speaking, captivating audiences with her poetry throughout New York City.

Becoming a single mom at a young age and losing her mother to cancer tested Crystal’s strength. Despite the challenges, she persevered, doing whatever was necessary to provide for her family. Enduring an abusive relationship in 2009 pushed her to her breaking point. It was in that dark moment that she turned to prayer, vowing to dedicate her life to God if she found a way out. With faith as her guide, Crystal escaped the abusive situation and found support from newfound friends who became her family. One of these “newfound” friends was an old friend named Benjamin Ford that she reconnected with on Facebook. This friendship blossomed into a long-distance relationship and ultimately led to marriage in 2011.

Empowered by the love of her God and her circle, she returned to school, pursued a career in Information Governance, and dedicated herself to giving back to her community through various projects. However, her passion for writing and speaking persisted. In 2015, she started “Moments with Crystal,” a powerful vlog that resonated with viewers worldwide, encouraging them to pursue faith and passion. A life-changing car accident in 2016 shook her faith but also ignited a desire to help women overcome adversity.

In 2018, Crystal founded Unbroken LLC to empower women. Through motivational speaking, life coaching, and teachings on self-transformation, she guided women to discover their purpose and become the best versions of themselves. She was in the process of relaunching Unbroken LLC when her life tragically got cut short. Though her time on this earth was brief, the impact that she made on the hearts of people will continue to live on.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband Benjamin Ford; her daughter, Dasani Johnson of Portsmouth, VA; her brother-in-law, Kenneth Ford of Brooklyn, NY; her godparents, Lorenzo and Michelle Singleton of Conway, SC; her aunts, Gladys Mannas-Stevens of Charlotte, NC; and Susan (Harold) Green of Wilmington, NC; her uncles, James Mannas of Brooklyn, NY, and  Nathan Mannas of San Francisco, CA; and a host of cousins and friends.